The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-01-15
MARTIAL LAW
ON IN GERMANY
The Authorities Deal VigOr-
OusIy With Outbreak.
81 ARE REPORTED KILLED

Uprising Was Started as Protest
Against Bill Curbing Workers
soviets - Troops Patrol Berlin
Streets.
Berlin, Jan. 15.--The government
proclaimed martial law in all sections
of Germany following mob demOnstra-
ton.
In this at least ten persons We're
killed and many others wounded by
machine gun fire from guards in front
Of the Reichstag building.
1t seems probable the fatalities will
exceed ten. "a Paris despatch says
Berlin advices received there place
the number of dead at thirty-one.
Some Of the wounded lay in the Ties-
@arten for a considerable time after
the shooting, although many were car
ried off quickly by the sanitary corps
and placed in nearby hospitals.)
The government admits the loss of
one member Of the troop Of guards,
killed in the fighting, while several
are missing.
Gustav Noske, the minister of de-
fenSe, has been appointed commander
in-chief for the Greater Berlin dis
uict and Brandenburg province.
Street Harades, meetings and demon
Strations of all kinds have been pro-.
hibited.
Noske'S troops placed rif1emen with
a barbed wire Gordon throughout the
downtown streets. The Relchstag
square was given reinforced patrol.
The WilhelmstraSse was barred to all
traffic and the government building
was virtually inaccessible except to
those employed there.
The mob organized by extremists as
a protest against the Industrial coun-
ellis bill now before the reichstag,
began 20 gather early. By noon every
street leading to the Tiergarten was
crowded with masses of people carry
ing red flags and clackardS.
When the reichstag convened the
crowd surrounding the building was
estimated a 10000. New delegations
of working people carrying red flags
and banners inscribed with the words,
"All power to the Soviets," continued
to arrive.
Troop reinforcementS in huge motns-
trucks were added 20 the guards on
duty. 4 man was taken into custody
for shouting:
Down with Noske!"
Provocation for firing upon the
crowd was furnished by its attempt
to storm the west entrance of the
building. y score of men attacked
several guards and wrenched their
rifles away from them just as soldiers
rushed up and then general firing be-
gan.
When the mob ran into the street
fronting the south side of the edifice,
soldiers stationed there suspected
they would be attacked and lmme-
diately opened fusillade, six slight
ly wounded civilians were carried into
the reichstag building, dozen others
were transferred 20 the guard house
near the Brandenburg gate and num-
Der were carried off by members af
The sanitary corps.
The big oak paneled door which
gives access TO the west wing of the
reichstag building was smashed DUR
ing the attempted rush. Through this
door large calibre bullet fired from
the ranks of the mob found its way
and also passed through a second door
into the lobby, crowded with mem
bers.
Members who were in the chamber
in the 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 a score
Of men from the mob succeeded in
penetrating and Immediately started a
general harangue. In the press gal
lery the excitement was intense.
The reichstag temporarily adjourn
ed amid great confusion.
When the troops dispersed the
crowd outside the building they ex-
tended their Gordon in the direction of
Inter den Linden, where throngs filed
the streets. An officer who CHANGED
along was severely beaten by the
crowd