IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 December 1918, Page 5

IN GERMANY.

O—LIEBKNECHT, RECALCITRANT. ■% Received 8.55 a.m. AMSTERDAM, Dec 9. The Rotterdam “Courant” relates that Eisner is visiting Berlin. He spent two hours vainly attempting to persuade Dr. Liebknccht to refrain from fatal revolutionary enterprises. He said, “You will destroy Germany if your plans succeed.” Liebknecht replied, “All the better.” TURMOIL IN BERLIN. HOW THE SOVIET EXECUTIVE WAS ARRESTED. CLASH OF FACTIONS. « Received 8.5 sa.m. - m AMSTERDAM, Dec 9. The Berlin Soviet Executive was sitting in the Reichstag building when a lieutenant commanding a detachi ment of Pioneer Guards, who stated he was acting under Government orders, arrested them. It appears the lieutenant acted bona fide, but was duped by three individuals, one of Whom has been arrested, while the other two, who are Foreign Office officials, fled. The lieutenant was arrested. When the arrest of the Executive Council became known, troops of. the Soldiers’ Council, cheering Liebknecht and shouting that Ebert and Scheidemann must retire, marched ;in a procession to the Reichstag. | where Lcdebour premised their wishes would be considered. Two other processions carried placards “Down with Hindenburg officers; we must have the Soldiers’ Council,” and also demanding that Ebert be hanged. The military charged the procession, using bayonets, and fired with machineguns, 28 being killed and 40 wounded. “Vorwaerts” asserts the Spartacus- | ers are entirely responsible for the outbreak. \ It is rumoured the demonstrators intended to storm the Foreign Office ’ and remove the Government. 5 I | A PROBABLE ENTENTE DEMAND. I I FOR DISSOLUTION OF S. AND W. ! COUNCILS. Received 9.55 a.m. NEW YORK, Dec 9. The New York Times’ Berlin correspondent, in a message states that the officials who returned from the ar- | mistice conference at Spa, said the dej maud of the Entente for dissolution ! of Soldiers’ and Workmen’s Councils | would probably be in the form of an 1 ultimatum, declaring the Councils j must be dissolved, because they are j endangering German economic condi j tions to such an extent that the Eni tente’s demand for indemnities could I never be fulfilled, and the occupation I of Germany by the Allied troops will j be threatened unless the Councils dis- | solve. | FIGHTING REPORTED IN BERLIN. LONDON, Dec 8. The situation in Berlin is not clear, but there are apparently two movements, firstly, a Spartacus atttempt to seize power, and secondly, by the soldiers against the Socialists and extremists. Advices from Zurich states that a Bolshevist coup d’etat in Berlin, planned by Liebknecht and the Spartacus group, failed pitifully. Government troops used weapons, especially machine-guns and bombs, but they were utterly routed and fled in disorder, abandoning a great number of killed and wounded. The losses of Government troops were Flight j Liebknecht stated that he intended to /rally his forces, so possibly the fig), 1 -, will be resumed.

I GERMAN DEMOBILISATION..

PARIS, Dec S. The “Matin” draws attention to the fact that the German army has not yet been reduced to a peace footing. While the Germans make a show of demobilisation, they may in reality he engaged in regrouping their forces. It is the victors’ business to fix the enemy’s military establishment during the peace negotiations