GERMANY: Reich Tremors

The past week saw the Reich confronted with a struggle for its existence and it appeared that the disintegration of the Empire that Bismarck built was actually under way.

Rhineland Republic. An independent Rhineland Separatist revolt, under the leadership of Herr Leo Deckers and Dr. Guthard, broke out at Aix-la-Chapelle on the Belgian border and the existence of a Rhineland Republic was promulgated after the city had quietly submitted to Separatist troops. The towns of Gladbach, Crefeld, Jülich, Cleve, Duren, Montjoie and Erkelenny were then occupied with more or less resistance. The movement was not successful at Mainz, Rheydt, Coblenz, Triel/ Wanne. The situation was very confused and the news was consequently unreliable. London opinion had it that the movement would not succeed.

The revolt was started without the foreknowledge of Dr. Josef Matthes and Dr. Dorton, the two principal Rhineland Separatists. Immediately after the fall of Aix, Dr. Matthes assumed control of the movement. Dr. Dorten was declared to be on the point of starting a movement for an independent Palatinate Republic, but there was no confirmation of this report.

The position of the Berlin Government was most obscure. Beyond making a protest to the French authorities for the disarming of the German police in Bonn, Chancellor Stresemann maintained an ominous silence. The French returned the arms they had seized to the police.

Unconfirmed rumors were abroad that the Berlin Government had offered to recognize a Rhineland Republic within the Reich. The offer, which may have been made, is not likely to be accepted owing to the fervent hostility of the Separatists toward Prussia, which is the dominating State in the Reich.

Bavaria. Crown Prince Rupprecht was once again hailed King of Bavaria at a public function. If the complete disruption of the Reich does take place, it is certain that Bavaria will become a declared monarchy.

Relations between Berlin and Munich (capital of Bavaria) were badly strained. President Ebert of Germany discussed General Lossow, commander of the Reichswehr (Reich Defence Force) in Bavaria, and replaced him with General Baron Kress von Kressenstein. Dr. von Kahr, Dictator of Bavaria, reappointed General Lossow to command of the Reichswehr, thus openly defying Berlin. By establishing a trusteeship authority over the Federal troops garrisoned in Bavaria, Dr. von Kahr virtually “kidnapped” 12,000 men. Baron von Kressenstein asked the Berlin Government to relieve him of his uncomfortable position. Dr. von Kahr and Minister President von Knilling declared that Bavaria was not disloyal to the Reich and laid the blame for the existing tension on the shoulders of Dr. Gessler, Federal Minister of War. Berlin took no action against Bavaria and it was thought in well informed circles that a policy of reconciliation would be instituted by Chancellor Stresemann.

Saxony. Chancellor Stresemann was reported to have sent 50,000 troops to General Müller, Reichswehr Commander in Saxony, and instructions to restore and preserve constitutional conditions in the Free State. These orders were transmitted by General Müller to the people and to the Government. The position appeared to be that the Berlin Government intended to crush a revolt by Communist Saxony with the utmost severity in order thereby to please monarchist Bavaria.

Thuringia. The Republic of Thuringia, on the borders of Bavaria and Saxony, asked Berlin for military protection in case of trouble between her two neighbors. (Minister President Zeigner of Saxony stated a fortnight ago [TIME, Oct. 22] that he would oppose monarchical activities by force of arms.) Minister President Fröhlich of Thuringia stated that he thought Saxony should leave Berlin to deal with Bavaria, but that if Bavarian troops cross the frontier “they will certainly find us Thuringians allied with our neighbors, the Saxons, for defense of the Federal Republic.”