The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-12-12
MILL DEMAND COMPLETION Of
OHIO RIVERS. .CANAL|ZAT|ON
Stirring Scenes Enacted
In Berlin Clash Friday
tLondon Times Cable. Copyright. 1918.

Hondon Times Cable. Copyright. 1913.
by Public Ledger Company
STOCKHOLM. Dec. l1.-Repcrts Of
what took place In Berlin last Friday
are almost as confused as the events
themselves. but 4 coherent account Is
now possible. Several columns OF SOL
diers and sailors with rifles marched in
the afternoon TO the Rcichstkanzietu'
where a. leader. named Spero made
speech demanding that tho uationai as
xcmbly be summoned DcccRlocE 20th
and that the executive committee OF the
Berlin workmen's and soldiers council
the government.
In conclusion he declared:
With Your support and strength IN
which lies knowledge. l speak for the
whole nation. and | hereby declare COM
r3ide Ebert the iirst president or the
German social republic
Amid frantic cheering and ratthng
drums Eberts appeared and addressed
the gathering. Having referred TO the
seriousness OF the present political
economic crisis. he appealed for unity
and order.
The conduct OF affairs, he declared.
must DS NCpS iit AtiiJ SAAN t'tA''NN ~ ~'~
government. We are seriously cndcar-
oeing 70 cooperate with the workmcn's
and soldiers councils in whose hands the
actual power lies. We also have come
10 an agreement with the executive COM
mittcc OF the Berlin council II difficult
ties arise there must under no ctrcNm-
stances be an attempt TO intervene from
outside. You must leave It to US. In
regards to your urgent demand Tor sum
moniuE the national assembly. you for-
&c, your comrades who shared your bur
den in the war. who arc now on thclf
way home and who also, wish TO vote
You must wait patiently until December
lG when An all-Gcrinan' conference OF
the workmcn's and soldiers council VII!
decide upon the earliest possible date
for the election"
After ono or two speeches. sailot
from kiel demanded that Ebert should
definitely state whether he accepted the
presidency OF the German republic
Thcrcupon Ebert rose. and replied:
Comrades the nomination YOU Offer
me I cannot and will not accept without
consulting my colleagues i'll the govern
mcnt. II i4 a political question OF eS'
trcme Importance. the decision Of which
lies solcl: in the hands Of the govern
mcnt."
The demonstrators then marched ava,
IN close ranks.
Subsequently. part Of the procession
under command Of Il man in the uniform
Of u sergeant major. named Fischer. ap
pears tn have marched to the hcndQuar
tcs OF the executive committee. sur
rounded the building. closed the exits
AMI arrested tho officials.
Declaring he was acting on orders ot
the government. Fischer then proceeded
to arrest the, committee itself. which
was sitting. at the time. Then they went
to the Erichkanzclr and reported the!
hal fulfilled their task. After Ions
discussion Commissioner Earth per
sunded Fischer and his friends that they
had .ionc wrong. and must release tht
committees and evacuate their offices.
Meanwhile in another part Of Berlin
= meeting was held by deserters and
soldiers on leave TO demand recognition OF
rh.ir own particular council. which
strongly supports L:chkn"cht. and the
formation OF Red Guard. In ths