OCCUPATION OF GERMAN TOWNS.

FRANCE’S DECISION.

ADVANCE BEGINS.

Down to a late hour last night there was no confirmation whatever, either in Paris or London, of the report, emanating from German sources in Mainz, to the effect that the German troops had evacuated Duisburg, and were retiring from the neutral zone, their intrusion into which has led to the present serious situation. The tendency is to regard the report as a characteristic German trick, devised in order to gain time. Yesterday evening we received the following statement from Reuter’s Agency: “From an authoritative French source it is learned that, in order fully to inform British public opinion as to the policy and aims of the French Government in the present situation in the Ruhr valley, it is necessary that the following facts should be known: “First, it has to be declared that the Government of the Republic has decided to intervene militarily as a result of the secret movement of the German troops in the neutral zone.” Secondly, it has been decided that French troops shall occupy Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Hanau, and Homburg. “These measures are necessitated by the fact that, disregarding repeated warnings from the French Government, German troops have deliberately violated Article 44 of the Peace Treaty. Moreover, France is intervening because she possesses positive evidence that the present German government is only the tool of the German military party. It is known that all the German military leaders in the Ruhr valley were themselves behind the recent Kapp coup d’etat. Further, France is intervening in response to the appeal of the workers in the Ruhr district to protect them against these very military aspirations. Failing this assistance the workers have declared that, in order to prevent them falling into German hands, they will themselves destroy the mines and machinery of the coalfields on which France so largely depends for her coal supply. “All the necessary plans have been prepared by Marshal Foch, and have been approved by the French Government. France, it should be made clear, has no intention whatever of making matters more difficult for Germany to revert to a condition in which she can not only reconstruct herself, but also carry out her obligations to her former enemies, as laid down in the Treaty of Versailles. The steps now taken are necessary, both in the interest of Germany herself and the essential interests of France. France has not the least intention of permanently occupying the places named, and her troops will retire as soon as those German forces which, against the terms of the Peace Treaty, penetrating the neutral zone have retired to their own side of the line. “The French point of view towards Germany is that there is no desire or intention to cripple that country, but, on the contrary, every desire to enable her to fulfil all her obligations. But evidence such as this of clear infraction of the Peace Treaty cannot be overlooked. The moment Germany shows her undoubted intention to carry our her obligations, and as soon as these are performed, France has no longer any desire to interfere in the internal affairs of that country.” A telegram from Mainz states that French troops will occupy Frankfurt early this morning. Certain army corps have already begun to advance.

MORE GERMAN NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent. Paris, Monday Evening.

So far as can be ascertained, there has been no development in the situation created by the despatch of German troops into the Ruhr. Two identical German Notes were received by M. Millerand yesterday evening, one addressed to him as French Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary by Herr Mayer, the German Chargé d’affaires, and the other addressed to him as president of the Peace Conference by Herr Goeppert, head of the German Delegation. The Francogerman negotiations are therefore continuing side by side with those between Germany and the Allies. German representatives are attempting to show that the action is of less importance than it is represented to be: although the troops sent into the neutral zone may form a larger number of battalions, squadrons, and batteries than that allowed by the agreement of August, 1919, the actual number of men employed is only 17,000, or 500 less than the number authorised by the agreement. The Press to-day says that these statements were received with much scepticism at the Quai d’orsay. Although a telegram to the Matin from Wiesbaden announces that the troops under the orders of General Degoutte were warned to be in readiness this morning and a Havas note said that movements of troops starting from the French sector were believed to be imminent, there is a feeling in well-informed quarters that even should France decide to act independently, no advance will take place for several days. The German Government was reported to have given orders yesterday for the withdrawal of the troops from the neutral zone, but the French Government, it is stated, has no knowledge of such an order having been given. News from Mainz states that Red troops have advanced from Düsseldorf and that fighting is expected.

LEAVE STOPPED IN FRANCE.

Paris, Monday.

According to the latest information received in French official circles, it appears that, despite the assurances officially given by Germany that only a very limited number of troops was to enter the Ruhr district, in reality the force at present amounts to an army of 40,000 men. Further, all the information received from the districts bordering on the Ruhr tends to show that it was unnecessary to despatch troops, as the workers were exhausted and without money, food, or ammunition. The utmost secrecy is being maintained in official circles concerning the nature of the “military precautions” which M. Millerand has instructed Marshal Foch to take in the Rhine occupation zone. A rumour was current in many quarters of Paris this afternoon that General Degoutte’s army had begun to move from Mainz and Wiesbaden upon Frankfurt this morning, but no confirmation of the report is obtainable at the War Office. All officers and men on Easter leave have been ordered to rejoin their units immediately, but apart from this no measures have been taken to increase the French effectives. At the present moment France has four classes – 1916 to 1919 inclusive – under arms, totalling about 700,000 men. – Reuter.