Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-04-06
TEUTON BOLSHEv|KS
W|LDMEN RUNR|OT;
FIGHT INDIAN STYLE
Berlin Spartacans Shed Veneer
of Civilization; Freed Con-
victs Willing to Commit Any
Barbarous Outrage for Pay.
BY FRANK ]. TAYLOR.


Berlin, March IA (By Mail)-Bolshe-
vism's recent struggle in Berlin was in
many ways like an American Indian
war carried on in a modern city,
IL you can imagine that The Sparta
Gus group went on the warpath after
the fashion of prairie tribes in Amer
lea three generations ago. In their
fighting the Spartacans showed about
the same degree of civilization as did
the Indians.
To understand how such a warfare
could take place in a modern city one
has to realize that Berlin was harbor-
ing many convicts released from prison
by the turn of the earlier revolution.
Most of these desperadoes are not po-
litican victims, but were jailed for kill
ing and robbing. Since they had every
thing to gain and nothing to lose by
the bolshevik movement, they leagued
themselves with the Spartacus group,
and for good pay were ready to COM
init any outrage prescribed. The boil
sheviks were simply wild men run riot.
/ After the governments volunteer
army had defeated the organized Spar
tacus resistance trouble did not stop.
Spartacans lurked in hundreds of
buildings, more or less fugitives from
Justice. From roofs, behind chmneys,
from attics and windows, they sniped
at government guards and even civil
fans, with no chance of accomplishing
anything other than killing.
CONSTANT STREET BOUTS.
In the course of a days work you
would run into three or four or pos
sibly half dozen of these outbreaks
or street fights, as they were reported
In the papers. At the first shots
crowds would dive into doorways. The
incident ended with few shots from
the government troops to restore pub
lie confidence and the crowd went on
about it's business. Berlin's popula-
ton soon became accustomed to the
outbreaks. Not infrequenty huge
crowds would gather to watch move
ments of the government troops
against the Spartacans, and persist
emily stuck around to see the show
Hundreds were injured, solely due to
curiosity
More than four fifths of the Spar
tacan prisoners captured in the up |
risings We're deficient, either mentally /
or physically, or both, according to ex- !
perts who are investigating the boil /.
o'eNihS' ne ulSCoNtIN may ltdu 10 /
some important conclusions regarding
bolshevism in general. According to |
the doctors examining the prisoners |
the Spartacans are weak, mostly from /
under nourishment and some chron- !
ically, and they are not in a condition |
to be responsible for their acts, and |
should not be at large.
The German Provisional government
is inclined. to accept the views of the |
scientists, and will keep this in mind /
In the trials and punishment of the |
lawbreakers.
Revolutionary outbreaks in Berlin /
drop upon the city like lightning. 1t is
impossible to foresee them. They just
happen, when the situation seems en-
tirely unencouraging to them
NO UNITED DEMANDS.
Berlin's revolution Is different from
others in that there is no united de-
mand for any one thing. There are as
many demands as there are Germans
In Berlin, and some people have more
than one. Until asitators begin their
work there is practically no action. |
Thus Berlin is filled with crossing cur
rents of opinion with each faction not
knowing just what it wants. Factions |
seize upon any preteXt for a demon
which unites Berlin into parties. A |
strong royalist attempt to regain the |
government would probably unite Ber- |