Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-09
SOCIALIST GROUP
DEFENDING PARTS
OF CITY WITH GUNS
Several Girls, Passengers in
Street Car, Numbered
Among the Dead.
GUARDS OPEN FIRE
ON MARCHING MOB
Soldiers Storm Editorial Rooms
of Karl Liebknecht's
Paper.
HAIL EBERT AS PRESIDENT
Riots Relieved to Have Intensified
Existing Gap Between Two
Democratic Factions.
HAIL EBERT AS PRESIDENT
Riots Believed to Have Intensified
Existing Gap Between Two
Democratic Factions.

LONDON. December S.-Rcports re-
ceived from Zurich tonight Indicate
that the riotinG in Berlin Friday was
far worse than the meagcr reports yes
tcrday would Indicate According 10
the Zurich announcement tonight $50
casualties resulted in the street ba,-
ties The Spartacus. or radical Socia-
list group, is reported to he defend
ing with machine guns three sections
OF the suburbs of Berlin. Several girls
who were passengers on Il street car
are reported among the dead.
II appears that the audience from
one OF the three meetings OF dcscrters
from the army was marching north
ward in Chaussec Strasse to join the
audience from meeting held in hall
farther north. The Fusilicr Guards
were drawn up ut the intersection of
lnva!iden Strasse and the commander 4
warned the people to disperse The
marchers were crying. Forward the s
soldiers won't shoot their comradcs.r
The marchers tried to pierce the line
whcreupon the order TO fire WIS given
Besides the wounded. several were
hadiy hurt rushing through rshroIsefi5
show windows seeking cover. A
toral rooms of Karl Liebknecht's news
paper and attempted to destroy the
plant Frustrated in their raid on the
newspaper office by government orders.
the soldiers then attempted to arrest
tho members of the executive commit
tee OF the sold ers and workmen'sis
council, the soldiers apparently labor
ing under the misapprehcnsion that
their officer had orders by the govern
ment 10 make the arrest.
This occurred at the same hour as
the clash between the government
5Ts Troops and the spartacus Insurgents.
House OF Deputies The chamber wa'
invaded by the armed forces and II
demand made for the surrender of the
council of twenty-cight In the name OF
the Ebert-Haasc government. Peoples
member of the commission. faced tho
invaders with challenge for their
authority.
LEADERS OF WILD MOE
HAD HAND WEAPONS
Mean while. inquiry was made at gov
eminent headquarters, and resulted in
the detention of the leaders OF the in
sursent forces. who. werc armed with
hand weapons and flame throwcrs. for
the purpose OF establishing rcSponsi-
hility for the attempted revolutions. 1t
developed that the men had been in
vitcd by unattached officers To meet at
given hour at the RrandenburE gate
throwing the soldiers and workmen's
committee, as such action. they We're
told. was demanded in the interest OF
the Ebert-Haase government. and. fur
thermore that 1t was certain TO meet
The raid proved a complete fiasco. as
did also similar attempt an hour
Dr. Liebknecht.s followers as il WAS
announced at their meetings.
Friday evening Berlin foot gunrtls
Chancciior's house and called out it l're- i1'e
mer Ebert. who made a speech urging
the men to keep their military units
to hurry calls. Premier EJert Vas
chcered as the coming President OF
the German republic. He modestIy de-
sition. urging that the Cabinet for
the present was concerned in problems
of immediate urgency: such as the food
situation and dcmobiliZaton.
The streets tonight were deserted.
inss on the Inter. der, Linden have
quartering troops there.
The 'ioting or Friday and the inys-
terious arrest Of members Of the eSecn-
tive committee of the soldiers and
workmen's council have intensified tho
existing gap between the two wings
OF the Social Democracy. which seems
now more than ever hopelessly divided
Political oulookers are wondering to-
day whether the Ebert and Iiaase fac
tions have reached the parting OF the
ways. and are asking what will be the
attitude OF the Berlin regiments from
the front when they arrive home next
week.
TAKES ISSUE
WITH IIAASE STATE1lf.NT 7
Hugo Haase the Foreign Secretary
in the Ebert government, is informed
by the Tagcb!att that Ii sees things in
q different light than this peoples COM
missioner, who recently assured tI.
American correspondents that order
was prevailing in Berlin. The German
Liberal organ, which thas addresses
Herr HaaSe. intimates that hn Is dis
inclined to break off with the Sparta
Gus gr0np. and IL declares that nm
government is impossibie
unless it is backed up by discipline and
organization.
'.rhe fear Of counter-rcvolution IS
Everybody knows the old in1perislistiC.
regime is dedniteiy. dix
posed Of. But we shall fail again II,
our contracts with the outside world
il the old systSm is now to he su<,-
ceeded BY the autocratic rule of the
,g .t
The Vossische Zeituug sxy9 tina. Tire
government Is not lacking In go3d
will. but that II badly needs libessy
OF decision which would enable 1T 20
rule with the power and prorlptnsssS <
necessary to save weil-hchaved pgD1
pie from drifting into anarchy '.,5g3st s
a nj ms |. a 49,.