The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-05
Strikes Bring Government
Nearer Fall and Situa-
ton Is Grave
DENOUNCE ASSEMBLY
Spartacans Sending Out Propaganda
Urging Acceptance of Soviet

LONDON, March 5-The possible
fall Of the German government is re-
ported in numerous special despatch
es received from Berlin.
The members of the government
have arrived at Berlin to consult with
the Workmen's council and mani
festo has been issued. All the CORES
pondents represent the situation as
grave.
BERLIN, via Copenhagen, (by the
Associated Press, March 5-The
government has issued a long mani.
festo from Weimar, denouncing the
terrorist attempts to get rid of the
National Assembly. It proclaims
faithfulness to the principles of de.
mocracy.
Greater than the political danger
is the economic Distress" says the
manifesto, "we cannot feed ourselves
from our own supplies-until the
next harvest. The blockade is eating
away the vitals of our people. Thou
sands perish daily from ill npnrish-
ment.
The manifesto promises the social
zation of suitable industries af;f the
establishment Of Industrial councils
representative of all workers and
freely elected. 1t closes with a
strong note, asserting the determina-
ton of the government to wage re-
lentless war against terrorism, con-
cluding:
"Whoever assails the life of the ma
ton is our enemy
That the Bolsheviki have succeed
ed in their propaganda for soviet
rule is amply evidenced by the gov
ernment's indecision with respect to
the plan to incorporate the ideas of
the soldiers and workmen's organiza-
ton in this constitution. There is fur
ther evidence that Hugo Haase's
party, the independent socialist, is
preparing to make common cause
with the Spartacans in a concentrat-
ed effort to overthrow the cabinet by
launching a general strike with the
purpose of forcing the issue of soviet
rule.
That the Weimar government is
flirting with the latter idea seems to
be indicated by the suggestion now
being considered that the Assembly
be given an auxiliary chamber COM
prising members of the Soviet boards.
The German Bolsheviki are now
employing new tactics along political
lines. In Fridays elections to the
Executive Committee of the Greater
Berlin Soviets they captured two
seats, their first representation in that
body, in which they and the indepen-
dents have now an equal vote.
Berlin newspapers, with the excep-
ton of the socialist organs, were pre-
vented from appearing as result of
the sudden strike. 1t is uncertain
whether this strike is a prelude to a
general political strike, for which a
large part of Berlin labor is agitat-
ing or whether it is due to trade de-
mands. Fear is expressed in some
quarters, however, that the present
situation may be spark in the poll
teal powder barrel
Spartacan leaders in the strike dis
trict of Central Germs ny are sending
OF propaganda by TRAINS and autonao.
biles into districts not as yet affected
by the strike. An unscheduled train,
of which the Spartacans had obtained
control, attempted to pass the station
at Kothen, but was stopped by stat
ion guards, who opened fire on it with
rifles and machine guns. One woman
was killed and eight civilian passeng-
ers were severely wounded. The
Spartacan train crew, including the
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