IN GERMANY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 7

IN GERMANY.

4 ELECTION DISTURBANCES. (By Cable.—Press A6eociation.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z,. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, January 19. Berlin is in the midst of a stern election struggle. Airmen are bombarding the city with pamphlets from all parties. There are grave election riots in many parts of the country. Owing to the deaths of Dr. Liebkneckt and Rosa Luxenbourg, a mob at Leipzig declared a general strike. They destroyed the election bureaux and forced the Government newspapers to publish apologies for the murders, and to admit that the Government was to blame. WIN FOR MAJORITY SOCIALISTS. (Reuter's Telegrams.) (Reeeivod January 22nd, 10 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Tho Majority Socialists and their supporters have captured 65 per cent, of tho seats in tho National Assembly. The result of tho German elections is interpreted in Paris as holding out a prospect of the early establishment of a stable Government. Bosides tho Majority Socialists, who havo a big lead over tho Independent Socialists, Herr Ebert and Herr Scheidemann can count upon Herr Fehronbnch, Leader of the Centre Party, as an ally in their efforts to institute a Government with a basis of popular sui.j jrt. The new German Constitution for submission to tho National Assembly provides for the federation of the following ton republics: Berlin, Prussian, Silesian, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony, Wostphalian, Hessian, Rhine, Bavarian, and German-Austria. (Received January 23rd, 12.20 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, January 20. It is estimated that ninety per cent, of the electorate of Berlin voted, soldiers and women being particularly eager. There was no doubt of a Government victory. There were few dis- j turbances, but Spartacus supporters made numerous efforts to destroy the, ballot boxes. Owing to the enormous' number of votes, tho result will not be known before Tuesday. Four Bolshevist leaders at Spandau, captured on Friday night, attempt >d to escape when going through a forea't to prispn. The guard shot all four dead. NEW MOVE BY~*3PARTACISTS. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received January 22nd, 10 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 20. The "Freisheim," tho organ of tho Spartacus Group, urges the workers to discontinue force and use their economio and moral powers in a united effort to overthrow the Government of force, crime, and madness. Tho first fruits of policy will be geqgra'l stoppages on the railways. A leading manager states that four-fifths of the workers are willing to carry on, but are terrorised by* the minority. Claims for damages caused by the fighting last week already amount to six million marks. The garrison at Bremen revolted against the Spartacus Republic, tho president of which fled. The garrison seized the bridges and stations, audJ demanded the restoration of Majority Socialist rule. INTERVIEW WITH EBERT. NEW YORK, January 17. Mr Arno Dosch Fleurot, at Berlin, interviewed Herr Ebert, who said tho last few weeks had been most trying. Germany's greatest fear was that the armistice would not be renewed, but its renewal assured the conclusion of peace. We resorted to force, he said,, only when the Spartacus Group did so. Our hands are now free to take up tho work of restoration. For days and days no coal or food has reached Berlin, with which communication must be restored. Tho National Assembly elections will be held on Sunday. By the collapse of the Spartacus Group, fair balloting is assured. Because of the events in Eastern Germany, we must face a hard fight against our former enemies and the strong elements among the Spartacus Group. It is our intention to fight off those conditions which the Poles are attempting to create in the east. If they were successful it would prejudice tho conditions affecting final peace.