The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-18
Spartacans Start Civil War in
Berlin and Many Fall in
Street Fighting.
EBERT Government UPSET !?
Disorders in Other Parts of Germany
-Trotzky Makes Himself Dicta-
tor of BoIshevik Russia-Prog-
ress of Peace Conference
in Paris-America
Mourns RooseVeIt's
Death.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARp.

Believing themselves now strong
enough to overthrow the Ebert govern
ment and gain control Of Germany, the
Spartacans, led by Liebknecht, last
week deliberately provoked civil war
in Berlin. First they seized the ar
senal and munition plants at Spandau
and armed themselves, and then pro-
ceeded to attack the government build
ings. Sanguinary fighting ensued, for
the Ebert crowd was determined and
was supported by many Of the return
ed soldiers. Some Of these were
posted on the Brandenburg gate and
at other strategic points with machine
guns, grenades and flame projectors.
After several hundred persons, had
been killed and many wounded, 1t was
announced that the government forces
had maintained the supremacy and
had large bodies of troops concentrat-
ed just outside the city, ready to enter
it. The chancellor, addressing great
crowds outside his palace, bitterly de-
nounced the Spartacans for their
''rascally behavior and insane policy"
and promised that they would be sup
pressed.
At this point the Independent social
lists jumped into action, taking advan-
tage of the crisis, and tried to force
out the Ebert-Scheidemann crowd. A
new revolutionary government was
proclaimed, composed of Independent
socialists, with Ledebour, Liegmann
and Tick in control. This naturally
did not satisfy Liebknecht, and he was
said to be continuing his efforts to in
stall a government of his own choos-
ing. His followers were in possession
of the royal stables and of police head
quarters. Chief of Police Eichhorn,
who is one Of them, had ignored his
dismissal by the peoples commission
ers. Radek, the bolshevik emissary
from Russia, was advising the Sparta
cans.
Dispatches coming as this is written
say the Spartacans were being
strengthened by the accession of some
of the troops and were holding the
principal points in Berlin; that Gustav
Noske, commander in chief of the
Ebert government troops, was prepar-
ing to call new forces in to attempt to
regain control Of Berlin, and that a
violent reaction by the more conserva-
81 10
There were reports that the civil
war was spreading to other parts of
Germany and that violent uprisings
were disturbing Bavaria and the Rhen-
ish provinces. In Munich and Bruins
wick there were strikes and riots in
cited by the adherents Of Liebknecht,
stores being pillaged and several per-
sons killed. The main strength of the
Spartacans, however, is in Berlin.
If any government can hold out until
the national assembly has met and de-
termined what the future of Germany
shall be, it may be recognized by the
allies as competent to enter into the
peace negotiations and sign the treaty.
That, of course, is its immediate aim,
and that is what the Spartacans are
fighting against SO strenuously.
Ia
The military commission Of the al
lies sent to Berlin in connection with
the carrying out of the terms Of the
armistice got mixed up in the ruction
and, seeking protection, persuaded
General Harries of the American army
to raise the American flag over the
Hotel Adlon, where the members were
sheltered. A street mob threatened to
storm the building if the flag were not
lowered, and at the demand of the
Ebert government this was done. In
patriots are assured by Off