Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-21
TWENTY THOUSAND
GERMAN MUh|T|ON
MAKERS ON STRIKE
Riots Reported in Several
Cities, and Attempts to
Burn Buildings
PROMISE OF MORE FOOD
FAILS TO MOVE STRIKERS
Serious RiOting Reported at
Some Of Great Krupp
Factories

Amsterdam, April 21.-Twenty thou
sand munitions workers in Berlin and
Spandau are out on general strike To-
day in protest against reduction of the
bread ration, according to latest infor-
nation from Germany.
Scores of conflicting rumors as to the
strike-including a number of reports
of great violence accompanying riots in
various cities-reached here today.
A great force Of strikers is said TO
have revolted at Magdeburg and tried
to burn public buildings
According to this report, troops were
called out to restore order and in
clashes with the rioters had killed and
wounded several, the city now being in
a state of siege.
Reports from Dusseldorf declared q
meeting of strike delegates in Berlin
had rejected a proposition advanced by
some of their leaders, demaiding that
the German government Immediately re-
nounce any intention of annexation in
the war, abolish compulsory service and
institute at once a general equal fran
! chise system.
Promises Intellectual.
! Not even the promises of an increase
in the allowance OF meat and potatoes
has been sufficient to offset the curtail-
ment of bread supplies, according to
| the German reports. Workers appar-
emily have seized upon this as not only
a logical time in which to express their
demand for more food and more equit-
able distribution by the government,
but to press demands for more pay and
reduction in hours.
That Germany 's leaders recognize the
seriousness of the general strike and a
hint that it may be more grave than re-
ports here have Indicated was evil
denced today in an appeal which Field
Marshal Von Hindenbmg was said to
have dispatched to General Groener,
chief OF the munitions branch, urging
that "every strike, however small, may
be the means of an uniustifiable weak
ening of our defensive forces, and is an
inexcusable crime against the fighting
forces, especially the men in the trench
es, who bleed in consequence"
Extraordinary efforts are apparently
being made by the German government
to restore order and to suppress news of
the internal situation. Two days ago the
government let it be known through of
ficial news channels that the entire
strike was settledD
Strike Widespread.
Apparently recognizing the funda-
mental cause for the strike lies in in
equitable distribution of the food, the
/ German government is conducting the
most searching investigation to unearth
hidden stores Of food. Berlin adviees
today related house to house canvass
ordered by the food dictator, which, it
was said, had already revealed IAN
Amazing quantity" of food hidden
Eaway.
Summarizing rumors, reports and
J known facts, reaching here from all
sources, it appeared today that the gen.
eral strike had spread somewhat as fol
lows:
Berlin-Several thousand men still
out; efforts being made to arbitrate
but Chancellor Hollweg declined to act
as umpire.
Magdeburg Grave rioting reported
10000 strikers demanding violence
(Magdeburg contains one Of the great
Kupp factories--the machine shoI
principally
Essen--Workers at Krupps plant sale
to have joined the strike.
Leipsig Several thousand striker
out; number Of street demonstration
, occurred, but no violence. Munition
] plants not believed to be affected.