The sun., 1919-06-21
NOSKE LEADS TRIO
OF RULING SPIRITS
Germany''s Defence Minister
Iron Man" Was of Hum
BILE Origin.
ERZBERGER MADECAREER
Bernstorff, Diplomatic Noble,
Still Uses Craft in His
National Efforts. :,

Tho three most prominent political
figures IN Germany to-day. the ''strons
men OF Germany" are Gustav Noske.
Matthias Eszberser and Count Won Bern
storfY. '.t. =:
Like Chancellor scheidmann and Pres
ident Ebert. Gustav Noske achieved po-
liticai prominence in Germany over the
PROSTATE bodies of the deposed leaders
Of the miiitarist and junker elements.
He has been referred to AZ oermany's
Nan Of Iron" and whom last March. AZ
ter becoming Minister Of Defence In the
Ebert Cabinet. he issued his famous or
der TO shoot on sight any spsrtscane
seen with arms In the streets. he was re-
garded by the Ebert supporters as the
chief hope Of the Government and the
man among them all TO meet the revo-
lutionary crisis.
1t was after the Spartacans had been
running wild In the suburbs of Berlin
that Noske came into prominence. He
issued his ultimatum tosthe Spartacans
Of Lichtenberg. who Appealed to him
as Minister Of Defence to call of his
troops and they would cease their at
tacks.
Not II can help IT," Nosks replied.
Unconditional surrender are my terms,
And every man who surrenders with
weapons in his hands will be shot. Every
piece Of war material must be turned
over the Government troops.". The
Spartacans surrendered and the world
asked: Who II this man Noske!''
Like the harness maker Ebert. Noske
came from the obscure class of Germans.
He has been q Majority Socialist MEM
Der of the German Reichstag for moro
than eight years, and in the early part
OF the war supported the German Gov
ernment's policy, but criticised the
armys administration and the German
policy in the East. and at the outbreak
Of the revolution went to Kiei to take
charge Of Affairs there. with the title
Of Governor Of Kiel conferred by the
Central Council of Soldiers and Work
ihen.
The German Who's Who" for 1914
gives . fragmentary sketch Of Noske's
career up to the date Of publication.
He was born at Brandenburg- on-the.
Havel on July 8, 1853, the son of q
a
education and then began work as an
apprentice to q cabinet maker. For
twelve years he worked at this trade in
such cities as Halle. Frankfort. Amster-
dam and Liesnitx. all the time taking a
lively interest in the Socialist movement.
During the years that the Bisms rckian
laws compelled the German Socialists to
carry on their propaganda in secret
Noske absorbed much OF the Socialist
doctrines Of the time. He turned to
journalism and began to write for the
most radical of the Socialist press. As
an editor Noske appears 10 have been
possessed of some natural ability and
this resulted In his appointment at the
age OF 20 to an editorial position on the
SoctaIist Brdndenburoer Zettun1. From
this paper he went to the Koentosberoer
Volksseitun0, and In 1909 became editor
OF the VoIkssttnmc, the leading Social
ist paper OF Chemnitz. He soon became
the acknowledged leader Of the Social
Democratic party and In 1905 was
elected to the Reichstag from Chemnitx.
Independent From First.
From the beginning he exhibited an
Independence OF thought that has
marked his public career since. He
began by criticizing bitterly the plant
attitude Of his own party toward the
war programme of the German junkers
and he criticized the Government openly
and freely.
In May Of 1918 he created his first
sensation In the Reichstag by leading
an open protest against the propaganda
Of the new Fatherland Junker party
which was being spread through the
ranks of the German army. This propa-
ganda was aimed 10 check the demo-
cratic movement in Germany and de-
nounced as the famous peace resolu-
ton" which was forced through the
Reichstag in July. 1917. despite con-
sentative opposition by Noske and his
colleagues As result OF Noske's agi-
tRtion the Government was compelled to
curtail Its propaganda and the Social
Democrats were given the Same rights
as members Of other parties In COM
municatins with their adherents in the
army and navy.
Soske was a vigorous opponent OF
the Brest-Litovsk treaty and was one
OF the frst OF the Majority Socialists to
advocate that n thorough housekeeping
was necessary for Germany's future we'll
being, even II II should mean revolution
When this happened Noske began to
play a more prominent part than ever
In German internal affairs. He went to
KEEL and superintended the placing OF
the revolutionary forces in control of
the KEEL district and for his in this
connection was made Governor OF
Kiel. and from this post was summoned
to Berlin to take part In the organIEa-
ton OF the Central Government then
in the process Of formation. He was the
ligocal choice for Minister OF Defence
and was named such last December.
Noske marked his assumption OF
power by Immediately inAugurating war
upon the Bolshevih and at once began
the organization OF a Home Defence
Guard. and in his first speech before the
National Assembly at Weimar last Feb
ruary he declared that Il would be Grim
inal carelessness@ for the new German
Government to fail TO protect its eastern
frontier that was then being menaced
by the Russian Bolshevikl. Early the
following March. whom the Spartacan
movement again assumed dangerous pro-
portions. Noske appealed to the Council
at Weimar for unlimited authority by
which to restore order. There was some
reluctance to acede 90 his request bs-
cause OF his we'll known and demon-
strated tendency for the employment OF
stern measures, but in the end he had
his way and Immediately summoned co.
900 troops TO the German capital, with
orders to shoot on sight any armed per-
sons found voicing opposition TO the Gov
eminent.
ponent OF Hugo Haase. the independent
leader. and repea tedly denounced him
for referring to the war as war of
a.