RIOTING IN BERLIN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1932, Page 5

RIOTING IN BERLIN

) ok ELECTION EVE

“CRIME AGAINST THE NATION.”

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

BERLIN,; November 5

A great traffic strike has been in progress here and continues. Chan- 1 cellor von Papen, in his final election ..'broadcast speech, ' declared that "the strikes, which the Nazis and .armed Communists are provoking disorder and disturbing economic peace, were a crime against the nation. He said that Herr Hitler had disappointed'the hopes of those who had expected him to combat Marxism and assist the rebuilding of Germany.

• Nazi Storm Troops gather around a pool of blood which was' left on a pavement when the police killed a Nazi Custom Officer. The Nazis dipped a flag in the blood. I. Nazis who were escorting Herr Hitler to an election meeting in the lthineland, cleared his paths with heavy whips. One girl, whe was struck on the face, is suing Hitler’s escort. The trams and omnibuses in Berlin are still idle.

The threat of dismissal of th# employees caused only twenty-five hundred of twenty-four thousand to work. Crowds of cyclists, shouting abuse, accompanied the vehicles that were attempting to run. Many windows were broken. }

The escorting police were hemmed in by stone-throwjng eroivds. The police fired killing two and seriously wounding others, including two women. The police raided a suburban house where they arrested fifty alleged Communists, including strike leaders. . The provisional transport services cease at nightfall. Under a broadcast threat that any one interfering with the traffic would be shot, this (Saturday) morning was marked, by no disorders. Flying squads of armed police were patrolling the city in the parts- where the strikers filled tram rails with cement and erected barricades. Few trams are running, and the buses and tube trains are idle. Two Communist newspapers have been suppressed. The city dustmen have joined the strikers.

POLLING YESTERDAY.

A PECULIAR POSITION

(Received this day f.t 8 a.ra.) BERLIN, November 6,

Polling opened on the fifth election With a year, A far smaller poll is expected than two months ago. The Opinion is still held that the, Hitlerites will lose seats/ some say many, A etuv ioiis feature 1 is that Um electors we unable to vote for or against the government because there are no Government candidates. Hie Government stands quite aloof and has left no doubt of its intention to remain in power whatever the result. Experienced politicans think von Papen will soon be replaced by another member of the ruling cliqtue, but no one expects a modification of the Government’s character or policy.

TOTAL ARRESTS NUMBER 450.

(Received tb’s lay at 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN, November ■6,

Another death' occurred as the result of the strike riots, and 450 arrests have been m?de.

ONLY SKELETON SERVICES. BERLIN, November 4

The strikers have defied the resumption order and only the barest skeleton services are running under armed escort. The strikers removed the rails in some places. The gas workers will hold a strike ballot to-night.