CHAOS IN BERLIN.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 March 1919, Page 6

CHAOS IN BERLIN.

ABORTIVE DISORDERS ' .SOLDIERS FIRE ON CROWD. A,message from Berlin states that in the clash between . Government troops and followers of the Spartacus, or radical group, several girls w.ho x were passengers on a street car were among those killed.

Eeports describing the clash state that an audience from one of three meetings, of deserters from the armywas marching northward in the Chaussee Strasse to join - the audience from a meeting held in ■ a hall further north. The Fusilier Guards were drawn up at the intersection of Invaliden Strasse,' and the commander warned the people to disperse. Those marching were crying "Forward!" The soldiers won't shoot their comrades. ''

The crowd tried to pierce the line, and the order to fire was then given. Besides the wounded several were badly hurt in rushing through broken shop windows, seeking cover. A group of soldiers stormed the editorial rooms of Dr. Lieblfnecht's newspaper, iand attempted to destroy the plant. They were frustrated by a Government order. The soldiers then attempted to arrest the members of the executive commmittee of the Soldiers' and Workmen's Council. The soldiers were apparently flabouriufc under the ; misapprehension that their officer had been ordered by the Government to make arrests. This occurred at the same hour as the clash between the Government troops and the Spartaeus insurgents. The executive committee was holding a meeting in the former Prussian House of Deputies, end the Chamber was invaded by armed forces, which demanded the surrender of the council of 28, in the name of the EbertHaase Government

The People's Commissioner, Herr Barth, who is also a member of the committee, faced the invaders with

a challenge for their authority. Meanwhile an inquiry was made at the Government headquarters, and this resulted in the detention of the leaders of the insurgent forces, who were armed with hand weapons, and flame throwers, so that the Government could establish the responsibility for ' the attempted revolution. It then developed that the men had been invited by unattached officers to meet at a given hour at the B'randenburg Gate.