New-York tribune., 1920-01-04
Soldiers Assembled to Get
Pay We're Arrested and
Slain in Summary Manner
BY William c. Dreher

tries as displaying elements Of the
old German militarism OF Zabern and
war atrocities. That militarism in
Germany Is not yet under tho control
Of reason and law was the first i'm
PRECISION created abroad by this trial,
and that impression has largely found
expression here, too.
The Marloh case was not merely an
outgrowth Of the old military spirit;
1t was also reflex product Of the rev.
olutionary turmoil that existed hero
last winter. The revolution itself had
passed off with minimum Of violence
and bloodshed. But the wider revolu-
tionary movement soon turned against
the government and irregular soldiery
led outbreaks for it's overthrow. The
first Of these occurred at Christmas,
the next In January, which almost sue
ceeded in upsetting the government;
and then another began in the first
week Of March.
"Murder Of the Marines"
It was near the end Of the last out
break that the murder of the marines" !"
for which Lieutenant Marloh was tried,
occurred. A general strike was declared
here on March 4, which soon developed
into riotous demonstrations against the
government. All the police headquar-
ters in the large eastern section Of the
city. inhabited by q working class pop
ulation, were attacked and seized, pill
laged for weapons and then held by
the insurgents. On March 8 the So
called Peoples Marine Division" de-
serted the government troops and
went over to the rioters. A large part
of the Republican Soldatenwehr" (sol-
diers' guards), of which the marines
formed part, did likewise.
This marine division had been or
ganized soon after the revolution. The
sailors who came here from Kiei
early in November to spread the flames
Of revolution formed its nucleus. Be-
sides them a nondescript conglomera-
tion OF recruits was taken in, including
many criminals. The streets Of Ber-
lin were then full Of that evil element.
owing to the general jail delivery which
the revolutionists carried out ~ the
first pledge of the "new freedom" Its
record corresponds fully to its compo-
sition. While there was q good ela-
ment in it, the lawless and criminal
crowd apparently predo4hinated- Even
that good element, however, was only
negatively good, for when . part Of
tho division went over to the insur-
gents the rest laid down their arms
and went home.
The division had No regular efaserA
Along with the "Soldate1wehrs It was
under fve "counci1men.s Ono o1 these
was Max Mueller, hithsxtc = tailor. who
appears to have had . sort Of COM
mandinz position evsr the marines It
the tina Of tho murder Hero II tha
moral diagnasis II the marine division
drawn at thin trial by = man connected
with thsir depot sf suppHess "a lazxs
part OF the men weuid negotiate only
With hand on pistols threats II vio-
demanded with >piStsl IN hand, uni
forms and arms In anpths1
case the marines marched up to Z sun
ply depot with machine guns, ever
powered the guard, pillaged ths rooms,
and everything was 'spurlou vor-
schwunden.' The council Of Hvs paid No
attention to the orders sx ths 9syern-
ment or No7ke-"
Noske Was firm
A. segn a. 1t was knswn fhst the
sScldatenwehr" had mostly gone over 70
the insurgents the government ordered
It dissolved. At the same time Noske
issued = military order to the affect
that any man taken with weapon in
his hand and fighting against ths gov
ernmcnt troops must be shot without
ceremony. OF sourss, the city was nm
der rigid martial law since the great
tnsurrection OF January. The general
psychological atmosphers among thu
greatly tnfiamed by treasherous attacks
upon them by the marines and other
insurgents, and q number Of their men
had been killed. Besides this, just on
the day before tbs murder" came Z
very definite report--it turned out later
to be faise-that a score Of policemen
had been snassacred In Lichtsnberr. ar
eastern suburb.
In the midst Of these exciting eundt
tions information came on March 10 K
the intelligence department Of thu
Lattwitz Corps--Gcnerai Luttwitz wa
in command OF tho government force
in Beriin---that q meeting Of tn,
disbanded marines would {ake plaas
the next morning at thsir hsAduua rter,
80 ASst~a >txeSt. kA8 8ll mo0tl1Rn haf
boon prohibited under martial law h
was at onca assumed that this unest;ns
had been called for the purpose Of re-.
organizing the division in the rear a
the government troops, which were ther
gradually pressing the insurgents tntc
the eastern suburb. ORDERS wera ae.
scfdinxly gfvsn - Coionsl Rctnherd. A
the cavalry sharpsheoters' division. to
D9svsnt The meeting and arrest all ma
xan>s who appeared. and he aharreI
Ldsutsnant Marloh With this task,
Arrived Before Maxinss
When Marloh procSsd4d VITA A4ty
fasn en- the following morning 70 ~
hsuee IA French Street Il wss With ~
nrm fenvtctaon that he was T. arrest :
lot u traitors and csiminals whs wsre
ebout " Eeo34nn1zA themsslvee fcS
furtiast 4ghtang against IL fe1ern-
usnt ~ had kssn tod 9 81 III
egpex1txs, and ke hsl bis pasn ~
sbout tisfx tad ID : hlxh-spir4tsi
Wy, 4~tSfmtnsA u sasry II Ehrourh e
NteEevey eosA Thsy tesk peceaS1lsn
- - 1ss9isee bszess any Z ths
nAx1nes asy1yelj anl - de istter :