The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-14
REDS CAPTURE CITY
NEAR BRITISH LINES
BOlsheviki Hoist Red Flag in
Dusseldorf and Machine Guns
Enforce Demands.
NEWSPAPER Is SEIZED
Police Chief Appeals for Aid,
but Town Is in Neutral
Zone and 1t Is Denied.
ny G. WARD PRICE.


Special cable DcspaicA 10 The srx from the
london Times Scrr,ce
Copyright. 1872 all rlohs reserved.
COLOGNE, Jan. i3.-Bolshevism has
broken out on the very threshold Of the
British zone of occupation. The red
flag has been holsted on buildings within
sight of the allied outpost line In Dus-
seldorf
BY sudden and carefully planned
stroke the Bolshevik Socialists estab-
lished authority in the town. seized the
offices of the principal newspaper, the
Dusseldorf Neics. and compelled the
staff to publish II under the title of the
Red Fla0 Of the Lotoer Rhine. with its
leading article In praise Of Bolshevism
and It's aims
At several public meetings this morn
ing the Spa rtacus leaders announced
that the time had come for western
Germany as we'll as Berlin to proclaim
Bolshevlk principles and that II the
Allies interfered they would be disposed
of with a rapidity that would take their
breath away.
Meanwhile tho work people In the
greatest factory in the town, the Rim
esst metal goods and machine works.
whose tall chimneys rise beside the
Rhine. demonstrated IN force In front
OF their offices and demanded minimum
wages.
Machine Guns Enforce Demands.
The directors refused at first. but
when all the exits from the building
were barred and machine guns were
posted in command OF officers they ac-
I'D 80 xkA .&rily ,A,,
twenty minutes, pointing out that the
responsibility for any injury to the bus
mess and the general welfare would fall
upon the work people
What makes these events unusually
full of Significance. Is that the Sparta
cans dared to use violence TO disturb or
der so close to the lines OF the allied
armies in Germany. for the city of Dus-
seldorf one of the most prosperous and
best planned in the country, lies on both
banks OF the Rhine.
The chief residential suburb on the
left side Is connected with the main part
OF the city by fine bridge. and on this
bridge are the outposts of the Belgian
Army of Occupation, whose zone is
bounded by the Rhine, while on the
eastern side of the river the boundary
Of the British bridsehead almost touches
the outskirts OF Dusseldorf.
The police president OF Dusseldorf drove
across the river to the headquarters OF
one Of the British divisions and asked
that a battalion be sent to occupy the
city and maintain order as he feared
Bolshevist troubles there.
Dusseldorf In Neutral Zone.
The reply was that by the terms of the
armlst!ce Dusseldorf is In a neutral zone
NJ g ial hv ha
Allies, though OF course they reserved
the right to do 80 IN case of need. In
any case, Dusseldorf is considered by the
armistice ss In part OF the neutral zone
! attached TO the Belgian sphere OF oecu-
patton.
An Associated Press despatch from
Copenhagen yesterday said British
troops mad entered Dusseldorf
The whole situation in the interior
OF Germany becomes more serious each
day. one immediate sideratiou
| about these troubles is that Dusseldorf
Is In the British zone OF occupation and
gets most of its coal in that region
SO that IL troubles spread there We
| could cut off communication with the
| affected districts only nj the cost OF
| losing a great part of the coal supply
| necessary for carrying on the life of the
| civilians and military in the area.
The spread % Spartacus madness in
Germany seems likely to confront the
Allies with the question whether or no,
they should march forward into Ger
many to save not only the Germans
, but the rest of Europe from furthe.
| contamination by move which openly
threatens public and private security
! throughout Europe. It would be a
grave task. which no one among the
| Allies would accept willingly.