Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-04-19

1liHeS I'fluJS Ile lOlIOWlng SpeCldl
cable dispatch:
The Hague, April ia message
from Berlin says that 125,0O0 workers
are now on strike in Berlin. The Tage-
bIatt admits that considerable num-
Der of these are murlitiOn workers.
Copenhagen, April 19.-The number
Of strikers in Berlin is placed in even
the semi-Oficial report at -125, 900, and
is distributed according to the Tage-
blatt, through machine works, some
electrical establishments, and part of
the munition plants. The Tageblatt's
statement is interesting in view of u
dispatch from the official news bureau
denying that munition factories are af-
fected. The Tageblatt says, however,
that the great munitiOn industry at
Spandau has not been involved.
Reports in all the Berlin newspa-
pers which have arrived agree in say
ing that most of the demonstrators
were orderly, although roughs resort
ed to occasional window breaking in
Unter den Linden, Friedrich and Leip-
zig streets and other central thorough
fares
Guards at Imperial Castle.
Soldiers as well us police We're used
in cordons thrown about Unter den
Linden and the imperial castle. Great
crowds gathered in the neighborhood
of the castle during the day and the
temper of the crowd, especially the
women, is described as extremely bit
ter.
The strikers denounced the farmers,
the wholesalers and the government in
equal measure for responsibility for
the food situation. Even socialist
leaders that opposed the strike made
it evident to the authorities that a fur
ther curtailment of ratiOns from any
cause could not be borne.
Labor representatives interviewed
Lord Mayor Wermuth and the Prus-
sian food commissioner, Michaelis.
Assurances were given them i'll regard
to food which it is hoped will induce
the workingmen to abandon the
strike.
Vorwaerts Sees Peace Demand.
VOrwaerts alone of the big Berlin
papers ventured to comment editO-
rally on the strike. 1t said that the
demonstration was based not only on
the food situation md the demand
that internal reforms be no longer de-
layed, but also on the deep longing Of
the people for peace.
While asserting that the peace SEN
timent has Il decisive role in the move
ment, VOrwaerts argues that the strike
cannot be regarded as anti-gOvernmen-
tai, since the "AustriGn and German
declarations justify the hope that the
policy of the central powers is now on
path which will soon lead to peace" "
The paper lamentS the fact that the
demonstration will have exactly the
opposite effect probably, from that de-
sired by encouraging Germany's enc
mics to continue the war and dimin-
ishing the output of munitions. 1t also
regrets that, among other eXcesses. a
crowd gathered in front of the vacant
British embassy yelling and cat call
ing.
"Pacifist Intriguer" Acquitted.
No reports of strike movement in
labor centers outside Berlin have been
received. A Kiel dispatch says that
the radical anti-war party got control
of the greater Kiel socialist assembly
and passed resolutions against voting
war credits. Another sidelight comes
from Munich. where woman teacher
was put on trial for ''pacifist in
Eigues." She was acquitted on the
ground that she was demented from
OYerStrain.