New-York tribune., 1919-01-10
Revolt's Fury
Surprise Even
To Liebknecht
Spartacus Leader Unpre-
pared for So Widespread
Uprising of Labor Classes
BY Joseph C. Sake
Nc0 York Tribune
SpeciG Gable Serrice

tCopyrgh. l9lS New York Tribune. 1nc)
BERLIN, Jan. 8.-Bellin is in the
throes of real revolution.
The revolt of Novembes< II was
essentially a declaration OF re bank
ruptcy OF the old regime, and We corse-
quent assumption of powe1s virtually
without resistance or bloodshed, of new
men of the classes. It was clearly a
transfer of power from one class to an
other, but the old regime surrendered
its strongholds without attempting to
defend them.
NOW, on the other hand, two popular
forces confront each other, each ap-
parently. determined to defend it's cause
to the last
The present uprising is the direct
sequel of the fighting of Christmas
Eve then expressed the opinion,
gathered from personal observation,
that the victory of the marines was
largely due to the attitude of Police
President Eichhorn, who placed the re-
sources of the organization at police
headquarters at the disposal of the
marines.
Apparently the government had come
around to this view, and an exceedingly
violent campaign was started by the
whole government and the bourreoise
press Tor the removal Of Eichholn.
Armed Own Forces
The final blow was struck last Satur
day Immediately after the resignation
of the Independent Socialists as men,
bers of the Prussian Ministry as a
consequence of the withdrawal of the
independents from the Imperial Cab
met.
The new Prussian Home Secretary
Immediately proceeded simply to re-
move Eichhorn from his Office. The
chief allegation against him was that
at about midday on Christmas Eve he
hed had civilians, especially workmen
from the big Berlin munition works,
armed and assembled in the courtyard
Of police headquarters for fight
against the government troops.
/ happened to be on the spot at the
critical moment, and in a message de-
scribed what | saw. But the quarrel
about this incident is really of secon-
dary importance.
Eichhcrn, little man with an apollo
getic voice, rose in revolt and declared
that ne would not bulge. He declared
that he owed his office not to the Prus-
SLAMS but to the will of the revolution
ary working class, and he would sur
render it to none but that class.
Has Strong Backing
He is backed in this stand by his own
guard, by the Independent Socialist
party, TO the disgust of its own more
moderate leaders; by the Spartacus
group and by the revolutionary shop
stewards, all of> whom proceeded to
mobilize in the streets in his behalf.
1t soon became lear to the govern
ment that it had by its own action
released underground forces far
stronger than it he'd imagined.
Only the day before the dismissal OF
Eichhorn, Scheidemann had told me
that the government was backed by the
whole people, that the Sparfacus group
constituted negligible quantity which
would not dare go to extremes again,
and that if it did the government would
know how to deal. with it.
But if the Spartaeus, group was a
negligible quantity, certainly the man
her Of aismigsing Eichhorn transform
cd it into quite formidable force. I
should say that the Spartacus leaders
tbemselyes were surprised by the pow
erful response their call to protest
elected. When | heard LeGebour,
Eichhorn and Licbknecht haranguing
the people from the balcony Of police
bcadquartnrs in the Aexanderplatz
Sunday afternoon, those leaders mani
festjy did not suspect how strong was
the feeling Of thir own audience, and
10 what lengths their hearers were
already prepared to 20.
portended' Gravcr Events
Tic seizures Of the Wolf Bureau.
The plants Of "vorwaerts" and other
newspapcrs, ard ths chief telegraph
Office, which followed during the even
ing end night, we're the work % the
rank and file, without She paYticipa-
eion Of any veil known leader.
LATE Sunday night tho excitemens
aud tension reached such Il psteh that
Continued on ptsg@J @Jo,y