Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-16

NonO proiong uiSoruers'
Berlin, March 10. (delayed) .--(By
Al p.)--Men who act as leaders OF
pickets in the general strike called IN
this city as n protest against the re-
dictionary revolt are threatened with the
death penalty IN q proclamation issued
to8ny Monday, by DIR. Wolfgang
\ kapp, the new chancellor: The order
for The infection of capital punishment
win be effective after 4 o'clock Tues
day today. and is based on the de-
cree prohibiting any strike or passive
resistance in any vital service which
was issued earlier in the day By the
minister of defense. The Chancellor s
proclamation follows:
sTSingleaders who are guilty OF acts
specified in the decree for safeguarding
important services and for the protec-
tion Of labor and peace will, as well as
strike pickcts, be punished with death.
This decree is effective from p. IN.
Tuesday,
There is intense anxiety over the
prospect of a continuance of the strike
. with possibility of famine and cpl
denies resulting from the lack OF SAM
tation and the stoppagc OF the water
supply.
Re endorsements Enter Berlin
Heavy troop endorsements were
received today by the new government IN
Berlin. They marched into Berlin from
nearby garrisons.
Chancellor Kapp, VINO was carried
into Office on the point Of 5000 bayonets,
thus far has been able to produce only
military backing for his government.
The basis of his political authority and
the source of the support other than
military which he claims continue to
be matters Of profound mystery. Not
withstanding this, he appears buoyant
with optimism born of the conviction
that the insurrection which he heads
will win the people.
Today he locked horns with organized
German labor in a struggle for mastery.
III the general strike. which Is already
paralyzing Berlin by reason of its un-
expected ramificatiou and which Is re-
ported swiftly spreading to the ma
tons vital industrial ccnters. should be
maintained for only three days the view
Of many observers here is tn. 1t would
be unreasonable to assumd~tnat kapp
will be able 70 establish his government
firmly despite his armed forces.
Railroad Strike Begins
The national strike on the German
railways Is set to begin tomorrow morn
ing. The railwaymcn's officials have
declared themselves in solidarity with
the workingmen of the country. The
railwaymen's central committee is NOV
ing from place to place, fearing arrest
by officials of the Kapp government.
The political aspects Of the situation
are as yet extremely mixed. In some
quarters the opinion is expressed that
Chancellor Kapp will be satisfied il he
succeeds in definitely disposing OF the
former regime: that his coup was mere
ly q means to an end. He is as yet
lacking in the support Of men OF min
isterial timber and he has announced
that no plans for the formation of a
cabinet have been made.
This morning there were recurrent
rumors that formal negotiations were
going on between Chancellor Kapp, on
the one hand, and President Ebert and
Premier Bauer on the other. and that
Doctor Kapp had demanded that the
first condition Of the deliberations
should be the revocation of Premier
Bauer's call for a general strike.
The sitting Of the Baden Landtag to-
day developed into an impressive dem
enstration in favor Of the Ebert govern
meut. according to messages from that
state.
Food Scarce In Berlin
No world capital probably ever before
:. experienced such a complete paralysis OF
all its living and commercial facilities
as Berlin did today (Monday). The
Hotel Adlon made heroic efforts 70 pro-
vide food for the American, British
and French missions and newspaper
correspondents. but it gave zip the task
st 10 O'Clock this morning when the last
of the kitchen force walked out, leav-
ing foreigners to shift for themselves.
Il was q common spectacle subsequently
TO see frock coated diplomatists return
ing TO the hotel from foraging cXpedi-
tions carrying brown paper parcels,
foodstuifs. oil stoves and other neCes.
sitics.
Guests of the hotel, warned that the
water would be shut of at noon, filled
the bathtubs and washstands. but de-
fective shoppers gradually let out the
precious fluid. and the guests there
after had to rely on wines and table
water. Men who are usually shaved
by BARRIERS are in an apologetic mood,
tonight. and if the strike continues the
male population will soon be bearded.
The city this afternoon had the
appearance Of another Sunday holi.
day, saunterinG crowds filling Inter
den Linden. At intervals troops with
bands and accompanied by artillery and
machine guns paraded through the
streets.
Copenhagen, March 18.-(By 4. p
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg, for
mer commander in chief of the German
armies. has made a public declaration
that he is not connected with the counter
revolution. OF which he disapproves,
says the Hanover Tageblatt.
Gustav Noske, minister defense in
the old government. has issued q decree
forbidding the circulation of proclama
tions issued by Berlin authorities in ter
ritory outside that city.
President Ebert, in officially notify.
ing DR.. Wolfgang Kapp and his as
sociates in the new German government
that no negotiations would be held be-
tween officials of the two regimes, de-
clared he would direct the country's 5
tai, according TO n dispatch received
from Berlin.
Paris, March 16.- Ry 4. p. Sen
timent in Baden is strong for a separa-
tion from Berlin and In favor of q
union OF Bavaria, Wurtemberg and
Baden, according to n telephone dispatch
to Information from Basle. 1t Is said
many Badenpse are openly advocating
joining the Swiss confederation.
The general strike IL effective through
out Germany, and only food trains are
running, according TO adyices. Severe
fighting is reported from Dresden, Leip.
zig, Brandenburg and ChemnitZ.
The Hague, March 16, (By A. PD