The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-14
Mob of 10000 Storms Reichstag
Many Are Killed.
Radical Uprising Is Spreading
Over the Country.
NOSkE PUT IN COMMAND
Wire Entanglements Now on
Inter Den Linden.
Industrial Bill Cause of Red
Flag Demonstration.

Berlin, Jan. IA state of siege
has been proclaimed thruout Germany
with the exception of Wurtemburg,
Saxony and Bavaria as a result of
widespread riots.
The proclamation was issued by
President Ebert late yesterday.
Scores have been killed in riots in
Berlin and more than 100 men and
women wounded.
Many persons were killed and
wounded in a melee between mem
bers of a mob and police guards in
front of the reichstag building here
yesterday afternoon. The mob, organ
lied by extremists as a protest against
the industrial councils bill now be-
fore the reichstag, began to gather in
the morning.
By noon every street leading to the
Tiergarten, was crowded with masses
of people carrying red flags and pla-
cards. Anticipating a demonstration
before the r-ichstag building, the au
thorities had surrounded the building
with public security guards and ma
chine gunners who barred approach
to the edifice. AS time passed the
crowd was Joined by striking tram en-
ployes and soon infIammatory
Charged Machine Gunners.
Attempts were made by the guards
to quietly sdisperse the mob, but it
was needless of warning. At last, the
mob, regardless of the machine gun
ners and other defenders of the build
ing made a rush against the police
lines, trying to disarm the guards and
disable the machine guns. When it
was seen the mob could not be check
ed in any other way, fire was opened.
The shooting was at close range and
the front of the building was Uttered
with dead and wounded. The most
severe casualties were inflicted on the
crowd which approached from the
Simonstrasse side of the structure
Order was soon restored.
The reichstag continued its sitting
until 3 o'clock, at which time it was
announced ten bodies of persons killed
in the fight had been brought into the
court of the building.
Rifle and machine gun fire was
opened on the mob at $40 o'clock and
lasted five minutes. 1t was most Sc
we're around the west portal of the
nullding. Later the correspondent of
the Associated Press counted at least
twenty men lying in the outskirts of
the Tiergarten apparently wounded.
When the troops began firing the
crowd ran pell nell in all directions.
Reichstag Adjourned.
At the sound of the guns members
of the lower house of the reichstag left
the assembly chamber and crowded
into the lounging room, where there
was intense excitement. At the west
entrance of the building a score of
men attacked several guards and
wrenched their rifles away from them
Just as soldiers rushed up and then
general firing began.
When the mob ran into the street
fronting the south side of the edifice,
soldiers stationed there suspected they
would be attacked and Immediately
opened a fusillade. The reichstag
temporarily adjourned amid great
confusion. President Fehrenbach was
obliged to leave the chair but was un-
able to control the situation. Mem
bers of various parties engaged in vio-
lent recriminations and members of
the cabinet left the chamber.
Penetrated Building.
Some of the wounded lay in the
Tiergarten for a considerable time
after the shooting, altho many were
carried to hospitals. Members of the
National assembly which was meeting
in the chamber, in the inner center of
the building heard only faint reports
of the shots. Gradually news of the
clash reached the chamber and an
exodus followed into the corridors,
into which score Of men from the
mob succeeded in penetrating and i'm
mediately started a general harangue.
Up in the press gallery the excitement
was equally intense.
The government admits the loss of
one member of the troops of guards,
killed in the fighting, while several
are missing. The big oak paneled
door which gives access to the west
wing of the reichstag building was
smashed during the attempted rush.
1t was the prompt resistance of the
public security troops on guard that
prevented ingresS which would have
resulted in the invasion of the cham
ber by the mob. Thru this door a
large calibre bullet fired from the
ranks of the mob found Its way and
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