Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-27
RADICALS SEIZE
WAR MINISTRY
IN HUN CAPITAL

Sont1nueu FROM rage One.)
sailors with machine guns as soon
as it arrived.
The sailors then attacked the
headquarters and captured Wells and
his aides. They were detained in
palace, but were released ultimately.
Ebert Summons Guard.
About the same time crowd of
sailors marched to the chancellor's
palace for the purpose of interpret
lating the Ebert Haase cabinet. The
members of the cabinet were de-
tanned for two hours. Premier
Ebert, fearing that an attempt was
being made to overthrow the cab
met, summonded the Potsdam
guards. Three companies of infan-
try and a battery OF field artillery
presently appeared before the palace
behind the iron gates OF which were
80 sailors with machine guns. The
troops demanded that the sailors
disarm and disband. 1t appeared
Tor while that serious clash
was impending, but Ebert finally
mounted motor truck and an
nounced that the government want
ed bother armed forces to with
draw. !.
The cabinet, he said, was salts
fled to dispense with further pro-
lection. A long controversy as to
which side would move first was
settled by the Simultaneous depart
ure OF guards and sailors in opposite
directions.
Wells, the military commander,
had been particularly obnoxious to
the radicals and there had been
strong rivalry between the republi-
can guard under his leadership and
the public safety police organized
by the independent socialists. Both
organizations probably will be sup
planted by mounted troops which
are now stationed in local barracks. |
Herman Molkenbullr. former head
of the soldiers section of the ex-
ecutive committee Of the soldiers
and workmen's council, has been
military commander in
Berlin in succession to Wells.
Mutineers Hoist White Flag.
London, Dec. 26.-The mutinous
sailors who had been holding out
in the Red palace at Berlin have
hoisted the white flag and have been
to leave under goard, &C
to advices from Berlin sent
~ the Exchange Telegraph cor
respondent at Amsterdam. Govern
nent troops, the messags adds. now
occupy the palace and the royal
stables.
Nearly 100 persons were killed in
he street fighting which began i'll
Berlin on Tuesday morning, accord
ng to the latest reports from the
German capital, transmitted by the
Exchange Telegraph correspondent
It Copenhagen. The republican
guards tried several times to take
he royal stables and the headquar-
ers of the revolving sailors, but
we're repulsed.
Many soldiers belonging to the
Berlin guard and few of the re-
publican guards joined the sailors,
torwaerts reports.
Civilians Join Sailors.
When these reports were sent
arge number of armed civilians
we're continuing to join the sailors,
lot only at the royal stables, but
n the Koenigstrasse. This street,
With all its houses, was reported in
he hands of the sailors, who were
by the Spartacans. They
lemanded that Premier Ebert and
secretary Haase resign and be re- ;
laced by George Ledebour and DR..
>arl Liebknecht.
Further fighting was anticipated,
was added, as the Spartacans and ,
he sailors had decided to attempt
o force the guards to return to
ootsdam. The guards were sta ,
toned in Inter Den Linden and on
he Werderschen platz. ,
Seize Royal Castle.
According to an Exchange Tele-
raph dispatch from Copenhagen, a
orce of 300 sailors on Monday
ormed a guard and seized the Red
astle, one of the former royal pal .
ces. They blocked the main streets
nd entered the public buildings and
rrested Herr Wells, the military ;;
commander of Berlin; Herr Fischer,
is adjutant, and DR.. Bongard. +,
The republican guard, with ma =
hine guns and artillery bombarded !
he castle. Holes were made in the
walls, the porches were destroyed
nd all the windows smashed. The
alcony, from which former Emper- !,
r William once made speech in
which he declared: II know no ;
arties," was partly smashed. The ,
uard eventually occupied the {
astle, but the sailors were still ,
olding another large building at
he time the dispatch was filed. The I
quare in front of the castle was
ttered with stones and missiles. I
100 nm m RnII nf Italian ;