The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-04
BERLIN IN HANDS
OF PR0FITEERS;
MILLIONS WALK
POpulace Unusually Calm,
but NOske Is Ready for
Emergencies.
WAGE DEMANDS GROW
Strike Seen as Political
Move for Overthrow of
the Government.
CABINET OFF TO WEIMAR
Promise. Of Lifting Blockade
When Germany Ratifies the
Treaty Aids Situation.
ny KARL H. Won wIEGAND.
Sta1 Correspondent Of The Sun.

Coptrioht, 1918: oil rights reserved.
BERLIN, July 1 (delayed) The
capital Of Germany presented a pic
ture to-day not unlike large cities pre-
vious to the advent of modern trans
portation. Not a wheel turned on the
subway, surface or elevated trains,
and with all the suburban steam
trains tied up the larger part Of the
city's four millions walked.
The open square known as the
"Platz," from which the streets radl-
ate like the spokes Of a wheel, re-
sembled a market place of olden
times. Every conceivable kind of
vehicle was resurrected and stood
waiting for passengers. at rates Of
from 80 cents up. Butcher wagons,
bakery wagons, grocers' delivery
wagons, dogcarts and ancient landaus
long forgotten were improvised.
Automobile traffic was heavier than
any day since before the war, the
drivers ignoring the legal passenger
rates recently authorized and snap
ping their fingers at all who declined
to pay their outlandish charges.
Troops Kept Out OF sight.
The business part Of the city was
generally demorallzed, many en-
ployees not reaching their work until
noon. The patience Of the public
remained almost unbelievable and the
day passed calmly. Cavalry patrols
were seen in the streets, but Minister
Of Defence Noske kept his troops out
Of sight to avoid provocation.
1t Is evident that Noske has be-
come weary Of the responsibility of
maintaining order in the country. He
spent the entire day at his head
quarters. before which many motor
trucks loaded with machine guns were
observed. He expressed confidence
that the situation would not get away
from him.
The food and coal trains were seri-
ously interfered with, although fair
regularity In passenger traffic was
maintained. Only three days coal
supply remains in the power plants
Of the electric railways companies,
and there is like amount In the gas
works.
Minister Noske declared he would
bring the food trains from Hamburg
and Bremen by force II necessary.
The omnibus lines are still running.
but the men have demanded SIS
month increase, retroactive two
months. The rail workers are de-
manding q minimum Of S2,225 a year.
Some of the Wage Demands.
The tendency Of labor to exercise
the spirit of exploitation of which
1t has always accused capital Is shown
in the new wage demands of the hotel
and restaurant employees union In
Dresden. The porters want $1,000 a
year, walters from $2.225 up and
cooks and their assistants $2,750.
The Berlin strike, while apparently
based on the incredible prices of ne.
cessities, is said In Government cir
cles to have political significance and
designed ultimately to cause the fall
of the Government.
On the other hand, the charge
Is made, and with much reason,
that the Government has remained
apathetic toward the food profteers
and that no attempt has been made
TO control prices. The workers con-
tend that 1t is impossible to live when
meat is SO u pound, suit of clothes
$3.50 and everything else in proportion.
Stimulated by the promise that the
blockade would be lifted when Ger
many ratified the treaty the members
of the Government left for Welmar
tonight.