New-York tribune., 1920-03-18
Kapp Flees
Berlin; Reds
Entrenching?.
Declares i'm Surrendering
German Government
Fatherland Must Unite
in War ON Bolshevism
Luettwitz RESIGNS:
Seecht i'm Charge
Press Agents Ridicule the
Danger of Bolshevism;
Troublous Times Seen

L " Il AAQANS kJNSlA
BERLIN, March II (Euening)
(By The Associated Press After
holding the reins of power for less
than five days, Dr.. Wofgang Kapp,
the self-appointed Chancellor and
dictator, and Won Luettwitz, COM
mander in chief of the army, un
der Kapp, have retired from Office
and control.
Wolfgang Kapp has fled Berlin
leaving the Chanccllery in an auto
mobile at o'clock this evening.
1t is stated that the Communists
are constructing barricades at many
places in the northern and north
eastern sections Of the city.
The leaders Of the general strike
have issued a proclamation saying
"The general strike of the railway
men has been completely successful
and therefore it is suspended forth
with
kapp's Statement
The resignation Of Chancellor Kapr
and his chief officials is confirmed by
the following official announcements:
General Provisional Director Kapp
has retired, with the object of bring
ing about internal peace. General
Won Lucttwitz has retired for SINH
lar reasons.
"Thc Vice Chancellor. in the name
of the Imperial President, has ac-
ccpted the resigna tions and has in
trusted Major General Won Seecht
with the provisional conduct of af-
fairs as commander in chief"
In previous statement Kapp said:
"The Bauer government having
voluntarily decided to -uiiiil the
most essential political demands ad-
dressed to>it, the rejection of which
on Saturday led to the establish
mens of the kapp government,
Chancellor Kapp considers his mis-,
sion fulfilled and retires, resigning
the executive power again into the
hands Of the military commander in
chief.
"In this he is moved by the con-
victon of the extreme necessity of
the fatherland, which demands solid
union of all against the annihilating
dangers of Bolshevism."
The semi-official news agency ar
nounccs that an agreement has been
reached between the members of the
Ma jority parties, the German National
party and the German Peoples party,
on the following points:
First--Reichstag elections to be held
in June at the latest.
Second--An Imperial President to be
elected in accordance with the consti-
tuition by the people.
Third-Thorough rcorganizat ion of the
imperial government.
In conference with the foreign cor
yesterday Kapp's press
,hef made play with the Bolshcvik
langer. In a second conference an at
cmpt was made to conceal the fact
hat the Berlin government was likely
o be OF only short duration.
Although the general strike dealt this
a mortal blow, the decisive
act is that Kapp and his supporters
lad no political prestige. their govern
nent being built only on machine guns
Warning of "Red" Revolt
The statements made at these con-
erences gave a strange impression and
aused suspicion that the cry Of
alarm about the Bolshcviki was pre-
iminary to the announcement Of re-
reat. The chief OF the press bureau
warned the correspondents against
howing themselves in the streets, as
Communist revolt was expected hourly
That any kind of compromise is out
# the question now is undoubted.
President Ebert of the old government
s strongly entrenched at Stuttgart,
where, according to semi official ad
ices, the Council of the Empire met
o-day and unanimously approved the
Id government and strongly con-
emned the military coup at Berlin.
Frightened Berliners last night were
skiing: The White or Red terror,
which ?" This was in consequence of
n official announcement that the
Reds" were planning rising and CALI
ng upon the people to save the coun-
ry from Bolshevism.
Government officials said to The As
ociated Press: I'VE fear bloodshed
o-night. 1t is difficult for US to hold
he troops back"
In preparation for the expected ris-
ng, officials camped in their Offices all
light When the correspondent left
he Chancellery at nightfall into the
arkening Wilhelmstrasse soldiers were
ringing in huge boxes of food and
ases of wine. Berliners generally
curried to their homes, pprehensively
ceking refuge and locking their doors
Notwithstanding DR.. Kapp's resigna-
ion. Berlin seems destined to have
roublous times. An influential mem
er of the government, talking with the
orresp spondent Tuesday. insisted upon
he urgency of suppressing the strike
lovement and communist opposition. He
dded: Time is on the side of the
communists, and every nuur we let slip
our position. We may expect
reat events between now and TO-
lorrow."