New-York tribune., 1918-02-04
BY Arthur S. Draper

LONDON. Feb. Q (delayed) From
various sources have gathered enough
items to piece together fairly COM
prchensive report Of the German strike
situation. German censorship amounts
to complete embargo, and even the
messages from Copenhagen for Amer
lean consumption are not permitted to
pass through uncensored.
Immediately following Hertling's
speech the German government began
to show signs Of extreme nervousness
and prepare for trouble. Last Sunday
the Berlin police prohibited the hold
ing Of meeting by streetcar en-
ployes, although it apparently had no
connection with the strike. Rumors Of
labor demonstration had apparently
spread all over the country by that
time, for Mondays newspapers con-
tanned strong appeals to the workmen
to abstain from striking
This plea had no effect, for Monday
morning some 100000 workers. many of
them women, engaged in nearly hun
dred factories, failed to report. These
factories were located in Berlin proper.
Charlottenburg and Spandau. Almost
immediately the leaders OF the Social
Democratic party interviewed, the gov
ernment's explanation being that they
desired to keep the strike within or
derby bounds
"Vorwarts" Printers Balk
The editors of "Vorwarts" wrote
against the movement, but the printers
refused to set the type. Many trade
union leaders protested against the
strike on the ground that it was of a
political nature and therefore none Of
their concern.
The Socialists immediately came to
the front and arranged an organization
of Soviet strikers and delegates, with
board. Apparently the government was
unprepared and hestant on Monday.
The following day several other in
dustrial centres took their cue from
Berlin and the workers failed to re-
port Tuesday morning at Hamburg,
Dusseldorf, Danzig, Stettin and Leip-
sic. General electric work ceased
operation either Monday night or
Tuesday morning. On Tuesday "Vor-
waerts" supported the movement when
Scheidemann, the opportunist Social
ist. became active.
The Socialists were most careful to
make it known that the movement was
not merely prompted by discomfort,
but aimed at the attainment of a def
mite political objective.
On Wednesday the government began
to use pressure, for the strikers were
increasing in number and many of the
largest war industries had become
paralyzed. Instructions were issued
street paradcs take place. The strikers
tried to induce the stretcar employees,
mostly women, to join them, but with
out avail. Tailors, shoemakers and
plumbers quit at several places.
Soldiers Guard Factories
The government placed soldiers to
guard all the factories and in the
streets of Berlin, Hamburg and other
cities. Only a few strikers left the
Krupp works and other munitions
plants in the Rhine Valley.
By Wednesday, the Socialists. Majo
ity and Minority, had met and decided to
sink their differences. The government
shut down nearly every Socialist paper.
On Thursday encounters took place
between soldiers and strikers, notably
in Berlin, Charlottenburg and Ham
burg. 1t is reported that some blood
was shed, but as yet there is no con-
tirmation Of the rumor that number
Of strikers were killed and wounded.
Martial law was declared in all the
industrial centres and the strikers
were threatened with stoppage OF food
rations. The military commander in
Mark Brandenburg was placed in
charge Of the situation.
Friday found no change in the grav-
ity Of the situation, the strike having
spread to all parts Of the country, with
neither the government nor the strk-
ers showing any signs of reaching a
compromise. No news was permitted
out of Germany except government
statements.
AS far back as last Monday the
"Kolnischc Volks Zeitung" said: eve
are at present living in critical pc
riod. Our situation is like that of a.
man who, by the eXcrtion of all his
strength, has escaped the danger Of
drowning and sees land close at hand,
but whose muscles at the last moment.
under the paralyzing influence of the
thought of soon reaching safety, threat
en- to relax.
Bolshevils Idea Attacked
"The peace negotiations in the East
have brought our national life into
touch with an atmosphere pregnant
with poisonous and disintegrating Gle
merts. The Bolshevik world idea is
the ruin of every state that comes in
contact with it, We consider that nom