Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-10
Guards Fire on Marchers

offering to Ebert the presidency of the
republic Of Germany.
Guards Fire on Marchers
Third. At a meeting Of the unem-
lp,oyed in Berlin, arranged by the coun-
,cil Of deserters. which is closely con-
Injected with the Spartacides. It is an
snounced that the executive committee of
the Soldiers and WorkInen's Council has
been arrested and that the Government
lis trying to beat the proIetarians out of
tho fruits of the revolution. with cries
iof ."let's hang Ebert: down with the
3counter-revolution - the meeting forms
In line. proceeding from the Chaussee
fStraSse, where II is received with ma
fchtne-gun fire from the guards in the
sneighborhood barracks. 1t is here that
fthe casualties result.
( Fourth. Meanwhile Lieutenant Fischer
proceeds from the Prussian Diet build
ling to the Chancellor's palace to re-
port the arrest of the executive COM
,nittce of the Soldiers and Workmen's
Council but II he is TO hold them he
desires n written warrant in place of
the telephone message authorizing their
arrest. The peoples commissioners state
that they never authorized the arrest.
Fischer himself is arrested.
Fifth While Fischer's men are still
holding the Pruss!An Diet building. an
other column Of soldiers having heard
of the trouble. and wishing to aid the
..Coyernmcnt. arrives at the Diet build
xtrJ led nv A soldier named Franz. These
fDen are told whA: has happened, and
What Fischcrs men a-e in charge, where
Supon they march away
4 sixth. A column OF under officers,
fcommanded by Leader Suppe, takes up
b position along the wilhelmstrasse.
d shutting off the approach from Inter
Eden Linden. for the protection OF the
q sChancellor's palace.
d Seventh Franz and his soldiers,
1turned away from the Diet building.
Sannear at the offices of Die Rote Fahne
and keep observation for nearly four
tbonrs. until ordered to leave by the peo-
3pie's commissioners.
Arrest of Council Committee
when Fischer and his fifty or u
xhundred men invaded the Diet building.
fFischer and twenty men entered the
{meeting room, pointing revolvers at the
xtwelve committee members of the Sol
<diers' and Workmen's Council and said:
4 Hands up We arrest you in the
fname of the Government"
The committee members soon recov-
Hered from their surprise and desired to
see the warrant. Fischer, who had
Xpone. insisted that he had received the
3authority by telephone. Then let us
<consult the Peoples Commissioners by
&telephone," was suggested. but Fischer s
linen stood guard over the telephone.
Form in two detachments, each TAX
ing six members of the executive COM
f1nittee to prison." commanded Fischer.
u, tl,,, ygor IS hn
XPeop,es Commissioners, who happened
kto be in the building, stepped into the
<meeting room and, hearing what had
happened, told Fischer that the People s
commissioners could not possibly have
fordered the arrests or he would have
KNOWN about It.
Fischer seemed uncertain, and his
men began to waver. Finally it was
tagreed that most of his men should re-
Imam in charge of the meeting room
i5while Fischer himself, with half a
dozen men, proceeded to the Chancellor
fpalace to report the arrest.
This happened soon after o'clock
EAbout the same time a long column O
ssoldiers and sailors, headed by drum
tcorps. marched down the Wilhelmstrasse
Timing up In front of the Chancellor
building. Soon other smaller detarh
ynents Joined. They belonged to Il dozel
sdifrerent formations, and as they as
sured your correspondent, who wen
kamong them, had no other tntentio
than 10 demonstrate their loyalty to tn
Ebert-Haase government and their de
sire for an early national convention
Spiro, their leader, made n speech
reiying expression to these wishes. Hi
most significant words, however, wer
drowned in the noise, but a newspape
report, evidently furnished by himsel
quotes him as making the following sig
nificant remark:
"efhe executive committe of the So
diers and workmen's Council must n
longer be permitted to put its clums
hand to the wheel of the GoverEmer
or exert any pressure upon it. TT
kexecutive committees evil influenC
should be stopped at once. We are SUI
THAT we are acting in the name Of IL
whole nation, and especially in II
; {name of our brother soldiers. II We no
proclaim Fritz Ebert President Of II
German Republic"
Ebert Ignores Presidency Oner
Deafening applause and the rattle
3many drums greeted the appearance ,
Ebert, who made the short speech a
5ready reported. He ignored Spiro's offe
tdefended the executive committee of Il
Soldiers and "orkmen's Council ar
stated that the national conyentiC
kwouId have the decisive word on ever
thing.
Two other speakers who followed.
young civilian and sailor from XII,
gave expression to antagonism to Il
Soldiers and Workmen's Council.
seemed almost as II they wished to for,
Ebert TO declare himself against Il
Acouncil. Again Spiro addressed Ebel
saying:
II must ask one more question
you, Herr rbert. You have just be-
proclaimed President of the German X
public DO you accept? Yes or no?"
Ebert replied: Comrades and frient
i am unwilling to accept your offer wit
out first having consulted my colleagu
Tin the Government. This is so serious