Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-02
HANDFUL OF BOLSTIEVISTS
CONTROLS BEAUTIFUL BREMEN
Banks Advance Them $2,5OO,OOO and I'm
employed Are Now Armed and Receive
$500 a Day From Government.

I at dashing about town in fast auto
mobiles and the townspeople at run
ming for their lives on the approach
| of the sirens. But somehow the
handling of written documents proved
| irksome to the new lawmakers. They
| dealt with these with fine air OF
| detachment. When one citizen was
| refused a pass-it is rubber stamp
affair-he asked for the reason of
| the refusal in writing and he was
promptly given the pass desired Then
| many more of the unemployed were
armed and to each a sum of % marks
| (S6.0) was paid daily.
Thus the eXchequer began to OWN
die. This last was important. So a visit
was paid to the leading banks, where
a little shotgun diplomacy was used
! That gave some standing to the argu-
ments of the loan seekers. and IL came
about that the banks agreed to ad-
vance to the new government TO-
900. 600 marks CSC, 500.000 on the con-
dition that some of the old officials
be put back to carry out the routine
duties of the government, and that
there be no censorship of the press.
Now Figures as Pay Roll.
Making agreements being one of the
best little tricks of the Spartacans,
the money changed hands and the
money is now being used to pay off
the bolshevik forces.
herr f1eHCkST, however, was UNI
easy. He did not know when some of
those chaps who had cleaned up Ber-
lin would turn their attention to
Bremen. Strict regulations were put
in force with regard to incoming and
outgoing travel. 1t was announced
would be put up TO the voters on
March 6.
So far. so good but much may hap
pen before March. In the meantime
the well-to-do inhabitants are sitting
on volcano. All the unemployed
have been armed and even those who do
not belong to the Spartacan army are
receiving seven marks tS1.75) a day
while the food supply, which is al
most exhausted. is being distributed
with more lavishness than hereto
fore.
Explains Peaceful Bremen.
These are the reasons why Bremen is
peaceful So it will be so long as the
money keeps the bolsheyk crowd con-
tented. Herr Hencker has found the
plckingS SO good that he has now gone
to Berlin to meet the Spartacan lead
ers from other districts and confer with
them regarding the formation of re-
public of the several northwestern
states. including Bremen. Hamburg,
Braunschweig, Oldenburg and Hanover.
Those from districts such as Bremen
under the Spartacan rule, hope to make
so much capital out of the fact as to
swing the doubtful elements their way
and eventually to accumulate sufficient
strength to stand out against the CEN
trail government successfully. They
know they cannot do it by force. Herr
Noske would take care of that, but they
are making bold effort.
Disguised and Amused.
People here are thoroughly disguised,
yet some of them see humor in the
situation. As one of the leading women
IN the city said to me, DO you think
that this comic opera will be STAGED in
New York and Chicago after they have
tried it out little longer here?'
But to me the tragedy of the situa-
ton was greater. That a beautiful old
city like Bremen should be held in the
evil grip of a handful of men who have
no real patriotism and who had in
simulated their incompetent selves into
positions of honora BILE citizens whom
they govern solely by the law Of terror
Is not pleasing.