Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-17
LIEBKNECHT. KAISER'S FOE,
WAS JAILED FOR TREASON

y
was born at Leipac on August i3, 1871.
After being graduated from the university
of Ieipsic. he entered politics rs Social
ist lie was radical opponent Of the
mlitarist policies of Germany from the
first of his political career, and this attitude
brought about his trial on a charge of high
treason in 1907, following the appearance
of an anti-military pamphlet written by
him. The charge of high treason was not
proved. but he was convicted on n less
serious count and sent to prison for eigh-
teen months. DR. Liebknecht visite
America in 1910 and lectured in New York.
ACCUSED KRUpps or WAR SPIRIT.
In 1912 he was elected to the German
Reichstar from Fotsdam and the next
year caused furore in Germany by bring
ing charges against the Krupps, saying
that thnf organization was inspiring war
spirit apaingt the French He continued
his attacks and in the course Of debates
mentioned Emperor William and the
crown Prince - being involved in the al
legged conspiracy centeIing around krupps
As result of his revelations several army
officers were tried for accepting brltes
from Krupre They were convicted but
received light sentences
When the war broke out, DR.. Llcb-
knecht refused to do military duty and It
wos rl,rnorcd that he had been executed.
Tins report was untrue. and hc was later
found in the ranks Of an Engineer Bat
TALON on the Russian front where IN De
ccmbcr, 1915, he was seriously injured by
falling tree
FOUGHT JUHEER LEADERS.
Although in the German army he did
not cense his attacks against the military
system and several times he was reported
10 be involved in bitter controversies with
the ,lunker leaders of Germany This
struggle went on until May / 1915 when
be was arrested for making an Incendiary
address at May DAY dcmonstra ration in
Berlin After trial he was sentenced
to prison for thirty months From this
sentence he appealed, and on re-triaI was
sentenced to Iall for four years and one
month.
This sentence resulted n grave dis
orders III Berlin and Spandau, demands
being made for Or Lebknecht's release.
While In prison he continued n write
articles which were gwen clandestine
circulation among the Socialists Of Ger
many One Of his pamphlets accused the
German government Of being guilty of
bringing on the war During his imprison-
nent be was elected to the Reichstag
from Spandau.
RECENTLY FREED FROM PRISON.
After being in prison two years and two
months he WAS released on October "A
1918.
In the political cataclysrn that develop
cd IN Germany early IN November, re-
sultlng in the abdication Of Emperor
William, his flight and the establishment
OF Socialist governm nj r. I.ebknecht
played prominent part
When the Ebert government had been
in existence officially a few days, Dr
Licbknecht became leader Of radical
socialist faction known as the Spartacus
element Rumors came to the world that
Terrorist revolution was imminent and
this developed late IN december. The
rising tide OF radicalism reached its crest
during the first week of January when
the Spartacans came into armed conflict
with troops loyal to the Ebert government.
| After week of fighting the Spartacans
were defeated. During the conflict it
was reported several times that Dr.. Lieb-
knecht had been killed.
ROSA LUxEaBURG RADICAL. RED
Rosa Luxemburg was formerly principal
| editor Of the NorwaeFts, the organ OF the
| German socialists. She often came into
| conflict with the authorities, and twice
underwent imprisonment for freely ex-
pressing her views on subjects connected
with the government.
She was consistently opposed 10 the wal
| and at one time her writings brought
about criminal proceedings against Leaders
of the socialist party. When the revo-
luton broke out IN Berlin early In No
| vember she was reputed TO be the leader
OF the most violent group OF Socialists
! Later she seconded DR.. Liebkneeht IN h.>
| efforts to organize the Spartaeus element
although she stpenuously opposed DR.
Liebknecht's proposal that elections fol
the national assembly be held st once
When the Spartacus uprising grew tc
open rebellion against the Ebert govern.
ment she played an important part ii
urging the revolutionists Il attack the
| government troops. When il was evident
that the cause. at least for the time being
was lost, she was reported TO have left
Berlin.
The government announced today thai
the circumstances attending the death:
Of DR. Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg
would be investigated and that punish
ment would be meted out # II appeared
that the custodians of either victim had
neglected their duty or had any part Il
| tho fraIar.r