The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-21

Dispafch.)
London. March 2o.---The situation in
Berlin. notwithstanding the calling OF
of the general strike, continues to be
surcharged with danger.
A pitched battle for the POSSESSION
of Berlin is believed to be Imminent,
with an army Of 5000 we'll armed
communist troops massed at Koepe-
nick. about ten miles southeast of the
capital, awaiting the command to ad-
vance the Baltic brigade encampsd In
he suburb OF Charlottenhurg and the
national guard backed by artillery and
uaehiBe guns. posted at strategic
noiats in anticipation OF an attack
The Snartacjsts arc said to have
i9otea tlse government arsenal al Spa I
8ap. ll4us acquiring a large quantity
"a machine guns and ammunition This
report however, has not been con
frnfrd.
7he danger OF Eenrraf outbreak In
the capital Is accentuatkd by tho
nervous condition of soldiers. police
sri public the result Of the strain and
uncertainty or the past week. Several
cIashss traeeahie to this condition Of
nervous hysteria were reported yestsr-
day and today
In Westnhalia the communist move
ment is especially strong A. red army
variousiy estimated at from 2s.oeo to
100000 weii-armed men. supported by
tanks and armored cars. Is reported to
have been assembled In the Ruhr min
ing districts. This army, ACCORDING
TO a Reriin dispatch to the Exchange
Telegraph. is being held in readiness
for an advance on Berlin Ii tho de-
mands of the radicals are not granted.
At Essen a Soviet government has
been proclaimed and Oherh2usen. Gel
~nls<<e&%N4~-a ttsasssdr -IIa<s.rnv-Rarxueu-
Elhcrfefd and other towns are in the
hands of The communists and govern
ment troops in the district have sought
Of occupation where they have been
disarmed
An appeal of the German delegates
at Paris for permission to send gov
eminent troops against the rebel forces
in the Ruhr district has been referred
10 the allied governments by the coun-
Gil of ambassadors. An alternative
that tho allies undertake to restore
order in the district.
The situation In L.eipsic 10 IN doubt.
hut At last reports the government
troops were gaining the upper hand
utter stubborn fighting against the
communists,
Present Ebert remains In Stuttgart.
nut DIR. Albert. one of the members
Ut his cabinet, went to Berlin today
to investigate conditions.
Among the demands made upon
the government by the workers rep-
resentatives were.
The granting to labor OF the power
to veto cabinet appointments not ap-
proved by them.
Decentralization OF aai troops and
creation OF police force OF work.
men.
REORGANIZATION OF political condi-
tt0na 30 that the workers may con
trol future legislation.
The total number killed IN the night
Ing in various cities since the out
break Of the counter-revolution lust
one week ago WAC estimated today at
1000.
Several hundred persons were re-
norted TO have been killed and wound
ID In an aerial bombardment III one
section Of Leipaic hy government
lereplanes.
The Ebert government may not re-
aIrn to Berlin until Sunday or Mon
lay, II was stated today, and Il was
reported at Cologne today that Philip
Scheidcrnann, majority Socialist
leader, has been asked by President
ebert to form d new cabinet
against Germany was seen In dis
patch from Berlin quoting Lord
Nilmarnock. the British charge DAT
aires as saying that supplies and
sredits would be withheld from Ger
many until order has been re-estab
ashed
.T1e Berlin press Ii reported t6 bS
renerally pessimistic regarding the
suuook The papers predict q lapse
INTO Hoishevism unless the sparta
sists are defeated In the next few
Lays The outcome Of the situation,
= said. depends on whether the
majority Soliaiists ana workers stand
ogether or the workers form 3 COM
stn&tion with the indene ndent Social
Communists werc reported today Is
lave Threatened 70 blow up factories
q n hich a1len rctuEMed u work.
aand bills urxtnk M men 70 hojd out
s1h !sSs.:sS
ssz s3s IS