Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-21
Ten Thousand Munition Work
ers Try to Burn Magde-
burg Hall.
REVOLUTIONARY DEMANDS
FORMULATED IN BERLIN
Peace Without Annexations and In
ternal Reforms Demanded-Von
Hindenburg Takes Hand.

Interest in the great French offensive
on the Aisne gives way today to the
startling news from the interior of Ger
many Yelled though the situation is
in mists of a rigid censorship and OBJ
ecured by the shackled condition of the
German press. sufficient has leaked
through TO indicate that the German
empire is facing great economic and
political crisis.
The latest information received is
that 10000 striking munition workers
have engaged in a bloody riot in the
great I'russ;an fortress town of Magde-
burg. and We're only prevented from
burning the city hall after sharp
clash with the military. This story
comes from the Dutch frontier with
sufficient detail to make It's claims to
authenticity impressive. on its heels
arrives the account of demands made
by the leaders of the Berlin strike. de-
mands of such revolutionary charac-
ter that compliance with them would
mean a prompt ending to the militarist
regime in the German empire.
Significant Feature.
Similar demands have not been voiced
publicly in Germany since the impris-
onment of DIR. Karl Liebknecht on a
charge of treason. 1t is significant that
they include a requisition for the re-
lease of all political prisoners which
would include, of course. the noted So
cialist leader.
The exact status of the strike move
ment in Germany is unknown. but it is
certain that very considerable portion
of the munition workers have been af-
strike at Essen and Magdeburg is the
site of an important branch of the
great krupp establishment.
An indication of the seriousness of
that Field Marshal Won Hindenburg
has considered it necessary to make
personal appeal to the workers. in
which he denounces strikes as mex
cusable crimes against the fighting
forces.
Soldiers Fire on Rioters.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON. April 21.-Ten thousand
strikers. mostly munition workers.
tried to burn the town hall at Magde-
burg Friday. according to a dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph Company
from Oldenzaal, Holland soldiers nred
on the rioters, killing and wounding
many, and the town now is in a state of
siege.
Won Hindenburg's Message.
A message sent by Field Marshal Won
Hindenburg to Gen. Groener, head of
the German munitions department.
with reference TO strikes in industrial
communities has been received here by
wireless from Berlin. Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg says he recognizes
that the population has been hit hard
by the regulation of the bread ration,
but that undoubtedly the increase in
meat and the regular delivery of po-
tatoes will compensate therefor. While
he is convinced that the authorities
will see to the proper distribution of
foodstuffs the field marshal said:
Il am. therefore. quite unable to see
how the food situation can be made
the ground for strikes by workers while
our present position on the western
front. which must be fought out there.
demands an undiminished production of
war supplies of all kinds. This is the
first task and takes precedence over all
others