Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-27
BLOODY SCENES
MARK CLASH IN
GERMAN CAPITAL
Battle Between Sailors and
Guards Declared Victory
for Former
BY JOSEPH HERRINGS
pecial Cable TO Ercning Public Ledger


copyright. i9is, bv Ncir York Times Go.
Berlin. Dec. - tvia Copenhagen. Dec.
27,--This morning witnessed the most
extraordinary sights. All night long the
Peoples Commissioners had been con-
sidcrinE measures to restore order, but
while they were still in session trouble
began again
infantrymen decided to drive the re-
voting sailors from the royal palace and
there was a great deal OF shooting for
about an hour. Before dayhreak the
infantry was in possession of part OF
the palace. but it was stated that some
sailors were barriCaded in the north
wing and refused to surrender, despite
their being offered comparatively easy
terms, guaranteeing their liberty II they
dispersed and left at once for their
homes.
Sailors Hidden In stables
Soon It transpired that most Of the
sailors had managed TO reach tho royal
stables in the darkness of the early
morning, and these also refused TO sur
render.
Infantry besieging both the castle and
the stables had drawn a large ring
around both. awaiting further develop
ments. Large numbers OF machine guns
and even heavy artillery were held in
readiness. The infantry and artillery
| had the striCtcst orders not to shoot
unless the first shot was fired at them.
The soldiers quietly listened to the
derisve shouts of the sailors who some
/ times for n few seconds appeared at the
windows of the royal stables.
BEFORE daylight infantry and some
guards. the latter having arrived only
the night before from Finland, began to
attack. Colonel TsChirsChki Won Boegen-
dorff commanding.
| The guards encountered the sailors on
the west side of the castle. The sailors
/ had half a dozen machine guns and
rifles. and soVe opened fire on the
guards. The latter were told to seek
shelter until artillery arrived.
Toward dawn number of field guns
were brought into position and opened
| fire from the castle bridge. Tho first
shots struck the wall where tho famous
White Hall was situated but did not do
much damage.
Other guns were directed against the
heavy, handsome doors on the east side
and soon shattered them to pieces. The
balcony right above the place from
which William II made his famous 81
no longer know any parties" speech was
entirely destroyed.
Soon the Government troops entered
this part Of the palace, but the north
side and the east side was still in the
hands Of the sailors,
| Meanwhile the sailors had been more
,' orIu'ale OF, ,''e hortn sue Where tney
n"u persuaueu several lor'"H''oh7 OF IN
iantry 10 desert the Government and
JON thehl. IL is sald that the latter
acted under msapprehension and false
| them hp
sall"rS' lhus II happened that the lat
ter for nearly two hours held tht whole
OF the brueoerstrasse ana parts OF the
breltestrasse. In both OF which streets
they occupied certain eu'ldlngs as points
OF vantage ana placed machine guns IN
| convenient doorways ana show windows.
Thus Herzog's department store was en-
| tirely at the mercy Of the sailors, who,
however, had no time for lootng.
There was a great deal Of firing m
the north s,ds and cast s,de wbiio a.
the same tire tho Government troons
beRan IN attac,, the rovaI STABLES
There was a terrible cannonade from,
ali sIdes against the castle and stables
which, however lasted onIv about a
ounrter of an hour
Sailors Display white Flag
About this time a white flag appeared
| al the WINDOW OF the stable. Soon after
ward another white flag showed on the
balcony of the castle. Tho fire sub
sided. and some six sailors, one carving
white flag, proceeded unmolested from
the stables to the castle, where thew
were Joined by deputation Of Gov
ernment troops
Once more negotiations far capltuIa
ton took place without result, II was
about this time that the Guard Cuiras-
siers, marching through FranzosIsche-
strasse, reached the scene with several
field guns.
Tho sa,Iors ,o,,, mad, . Ios, 1,,,,-.-
atiempt n drive IN tha SoC,sIp ursperate Ip"a,.,e
,raors ,ha rIsl, 20 k,,.,I a. .niieht N
OF curious onlookers at the street cor
ners, They placed machine guns on the
roofs OF the stables, but the very first
shot fired by the Government troops
put one machine gun out Of action. Quick
and precise was the fire of the Guard
Clurassiers c,Is Da No No sooner bone had the sailors
placed guns than they were destroyed.