The Washington times., 1919-03-23
'Grape-Digger of Navy
Won Tirpitz Is Called
By People of Germany

| navy felt that the blue uniform is con-
| sidered almost a badge Of disgrace
| and except for the uniforms of the
men Of the few ships still in commits
sion one never sees any blue, al
though the streets are crowded with
, men in the forest gray Of the infan-
try.
PeFsias Pamphlet Most Popular.
81 spent about all OF the first night
in Wilhelmshaven in reading German
newspapers and the placards and
handbills distributed by the Work
mems Council, the Socialists, and the
| civil government. 1 also got a num-
Der Of the pamphlets with which eV-
cry book shop and kiosk is packed. 1
asked which pamphlet had been the
most popular and was informed that
''Tirpitz, the Grave Digger OF the
German Navy" by Captain Persius
had had an enormous sale. A refuta-
ton Of this was on sale, but had not
proved popular.
THE principal support of the CEN
| trail government is the so-called Gers
tenberg division which consists of
four scant regiments made up almost
J entirely Of ex-officers and non-com-
misstoned officers, and commanded
by Colonel Gerstenberg, who has
tily organized this volunteer force
to Gust the Spartacan group. A force
Of 5000 men from this division was
dispatched from Berlin to Bremen
haven to GUST the Spartacans there.
| They accomplished this within some
twenty-four hours, proceeded to Cux-
haven and threw out the workmen's
| council and the near-Bolshevist forces
which had seized control there. The
Gerstenberg troop then proceeded to
Bremen, where they repeated the per-
formance, and thence on to Geeste-
munde, where they did likewise. The
so-called Marine Regiment has taken
over control OF a number of cities.
and is making good the work begun
by the Gerstenberg division.
Recover Bank Loot.
Political conditions in WiIheIms-
haven are considerably better at
present than they have been for some
time. Some six days before our ar
rival band of freebooters had come
down from Berlin and seized the
Rauthaus in the name of the Sparta
can party. Then they captured a
bank, seized all the money, about
$2,OOO,OOO, and retired to the barracks
to divide the swag. While they were
mus occupied hastily organized
party consisting of $50 ex-officers
and warrant officers and a smaller
number OF loyal petty officers and
sailors attacked them, and after a
siege of some three hours captured
the entire Spartacan group and their
loot. With the exception of about
100000, all the money stolen was
found and restored to the bank The
Spartacans were imprisoned in the
local jail, and there they remain.
THE civil authorities then assumed
charge, although the hastily organ
lied battalion still keeps up a patrol
Everyone is satisfied that for the
present the bottom has dropped out
Of the Spartacan movement in Will
helmshaven. And, as a matter of fact,
II becomes increasingly evident that
many Of the Spartacans never had
any definite political ideas; they con-
fined themselves altogether consist
emily to loOting and pillage.
They are just about finished now;
another month will see them wipea
out If Germany gets enough coal to
start her industries and give the men
much needed work.
During the Wilhe'mshaven attack