New-York tribune., 1920-03-21
Grave Dangers Still Remain

Grave Dangers Still Remain
AS the turmoil of the revolution and
the thunder of battle clears away it is
plain that the situation is fraught with
the gravest dangers. The Ebert reign,
however, comes out of the conflict with
assets augmented in one direction, and
that is, the result of Kapp's venture
foredoomed any monarchist revolution
to failure, whereas, if he had waited
for the proper moment, junkerism
might have climbed into the saddle
again. Moreover, the government now
has the most effective argument to use
in the elections against the conserva-
tive parties, which took no pronounced
stand against Kapp.
On the other hand, the Chancellor Of
the brief reactionary regime set in mo-
tion forces Of the Left which now look
extremely threatening. The labor or
the government cannot meet and sur
vive.
Everything indicates that radicalism
has now entered new phase Of de-
velopment that gravely jeopardizes not
only the government but the constitu-
tion Apparently Bauer does not fully
realize how gravely the situation looks
from Berlin. A feeling of pronounced
pessimism is prevailing. The atmos-
between probable attacks upon hotels
and the best residence sections to q
vast political catastrophe and reign of
a proletarian dictatorship.
Adlon Attack Massacre
A massacre of unexampled brutality
took place in front of the Adlon Hotel
troops being withdrawn from the city
began to move toward Doberitz. The
first firing occurred when the Balticans
almost had passed the hotel. The cause
is obscure and the reports conflict, but
the opening attack was small affair,
measured in results, although the fusil-
lade continued for half-minute and
was very hot.
was standing near the upper end of
Wilhelmstrasse and saw frightened
crowds fleeing like so many rabbits
down Unter den Linden, many turning
into Wilhelmstrasse. l reentered the
hotel and saw two Of the wounded
brought in; They said several others
had been shot. Ten minutes later the
marines began to move, and they soon
began a well-maintained fusillade upon
the crowd just in front Of the Adlon.
The frightened masses crouched in
front of the wooden ratings closing
the entrances.
AAoIil WlIIllI COulu sec CNc SOl0tCTS
cmptying their pistols into the de-
fenseless mass of struggling humanity
Finally, however, the crowd succeeded
in entering. The killed and wounded
were brought into the hotel, and dur
ing the next half hour scenes were en-
acted which are without parallel in the
history of such an institution.
Attack Declared Unprovoked
Members of the Sanitary Corps soon
arrived, and the wounded men were
given first aid and efforts were made
to resuscitate the dying One wounded
mitted that he had been attacked by
his own men. The casualties probably
numbered ten killed and thirty wound
ed. l talked with several men, who de-
clared that in the second shooting the
troops acted wholly without provoca-
ton; it was mere act of revenge upon
Berlin's population, which had shown
unmistakable signs of aEtipathy toward
Kapp and his troops.
Preceding the tragedy in front of
the Adlon there were many lively dis
and civilians strongly anti-J ewish in
character. Automobiles passed distrb-
uting handbills which attacked the
Jews in a most infammatory way.
Early in the afternoon the Baltic
troops prepared to depart, packing up
their equipment, harnessng horses
and loading wagons. Their expression
was that of sullen disappointment, and
they were a most unkempt lot, for they
had slept for five nights in uniform
their beds piles of straw upon the
floors of the government buildings
l saw hearse enter Wilhelmstrasse
containing coffin. 1t was greeted with
shouts of laughter as a bystander
cried:
Have you got Kapp therein?"
When the Balticans began to march
out there was a great chorus of ap-
plause and catcalls Bystanders said
the cheers meant not sympathy, rather
it was an expression of joy over the