The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-05
ARMEDFORCES.
RUHR.
RAIL TRAFFIC.
Only One Road in Operation
From EsSen--PasSive Re-
siStance and Ring of Bay
onetS Throwing All In
duStries Out Gear

ESSEN, Feb. 4.-(By Associat-
ed Press. You can punch hole
through the wall of house with
such violence that the wall, and per-
haps the whole structure, will col
lapse. Yet you can cut a hole care
fully through house in such a way
that the wall and the building will
remain firm"
This smile was used today by a
German civil engineer in Essen to
sum up his impression of the
Franco-Belgian attempt to obtain
PREPARATIONS in coal by occupying the
Ruhr. The sentiment expressed by
the engineer is typical of that of a
majority of the Germans with whom
the correspondent of the Associated
Press has discussed the situation in
this region since occupation began
some three weeks ago.
The engineer reviewed the situa-
ton from the practical standpoint
and concluded with the opinion that
the mechanism of the Ruhr's indus
try-mining and traffic-"is so
finely constructed that any rude in
lection OF a technical foreign ele-
ment, such as the application of mil
itary force, is bound to result in Sc
riously throwing IT out OF gear
oni. ona Line Rnnning
Across from the office of the en-
gineer lay Essen's central railway
station. one of the &c depots in the
city.
The only steam road still in opera
ton from Essen today was the line
to Muelheim on which shuttle train
was run.
This makes connections to Berlin.
The other lines had been rendered
dormant by the policy of passive re-
sistance of the German railway men.
The order of the railway men that
work should cease at stations where
the French and Belgians were fore
ing occupation was being strictly
carried out.
Although similar situation OF
stoppage prevailed at many points in
the occup ed territory today, there
still were many tracks over which
intra Ruhr traffic was busily pro-
ceeding. On these routes the Ger
l,,t tt,er t,.of inc oc
rapidly as possible between the mines
and industrial works, with the pur
pose of getting the latter stocked
up to their utmost capacity with
fuel in the event the French and
Belgians should soon attempt to en-
force in the interior the stoppage of
coal trains instituted on the first
of the month at the eastern edge OF
the Ruhr area.
Cars without Engines
One of the latest problems to de-
velop for the occupying forces has
been how to move trains halted at
border points. When the military be-
gan the blocking of coal and coke
trains destined for unoccupied Ger
many, number of these trains, as
we'll as trains with other freight
shipments were brought to stand
formed picket fence around the
Ruhr. Apparently believing their in
terests would be served by permit
ting the halted locomotives to be un-
coupled and returned to the interior
of Germany to bring back westward
mere trains, the occupation authori-
ties permitted the engines to be
driven off. The locomotives never
came back and now there are scores
of snake-like freight trains drawn
up at the new lines of frontier with
their engine heads. chopped off and
gone.
The French admit that a temporary
dilemma had been caused by this new
Phase of obstructive tactics.
The French have outlined the sit
uation briefly in informal statements,
about as follows:
There are two general directions
by which coal and coke products can
possibly leave the Ruhr. one is to
1noccupied Germany and the other
to France and Belgium The former
outlet, they said, has been stopped
up, even to the extent of blocking
signals and by sentries standing on
the right of way, armed with rifles
and machine guns.
Says Coal Orders Halted
Thus, the French say. it Is absurd
to speculate on the direction exported
fuel may take-that its only direction
leads westward. They declare. how
ever, that reparation shipments to
Italy are being allowed to proceed.
as we'll as contract supplies consigned
to Switzerland and Holland. The Ger
mans, however, assert that enese
also are being stopped
They cite III this respect six specific
instances of stoppages at Dortmund,
Dosten and Vessel. The Germans.
faced by the alternative of shipping
only to France and to Belgium are
continuing to adhere strictly to the
German fuel commissions instruc-
tons not to handle such shipments
Under any circumstances, even for
cash payments.
Interviews with labor leaders re-
veal their determination not to yield
ON amy point to the French. This de
termination apparently was as strong
today as at any other time during
the period of occupation. The lead
ers hold that negotiations must
eventually be entered upon as the
only feasible solution to the stu
alton, and that these will be impos-
sibIe as long as the Ruhr is op-