The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-20
.PR0LETARIAT
WOULD DICTATE
Workingmen In Berlin Demand
Controlling Voice in All
Legislation.
STRIKE is STILL IN FORCE
Spartacans Securer Rifles and
Munitions From Spandau
Arsenal, Is Reportr.
(BY FRANK MASON,)
(BY FRANK MASON.)

Berlin, March 19.-(11 p.m.)-L N.
S.)--Leaders of the workingmen to-
day demanded a controlling voice In
all legislation, meaning a Dictator
ship by the proletariat, as one of the
eleven conditions for calling off the
in effect tonight
1t is reported that the Spartacans
(bolshevik sympathizers) have five
tanks ready for operation against
the government buildings. which are
now occupied by troops supporting
the Ebert constitutional government.
The Spartacans are said to have
secured thousands of rifles, many
machine guns and great quantities
of ammunition from the Spandau
arsenal, but this could not be veri-
fed because the telephone had been
cut.
Newspapers tonight estimated that
at least 1000 persons had been killed
since tho counter revolution broke
out last Saturday.
The Berlin press is virtually unan-
imous in the opinion that there will
be bolshevism unless the Spartacan
movement is broken within the next
few days. The general strike seems
more thorough than at any other
time since it began and Is accom-
panied by disorders. Crowds attacked
cabs and street cars, dragging men
and women passengers into the
streets. Street car men were seized
and beaten because they did not quit
work. Their. was much shooting in
various quarters of the city.
On account of the menacing dis
orders President Ebert may not re-
turn until Sunday night from Stuff
CART.
Some of the Baltic troops (sup-
porters of the fallen Won Kapp re-
gime) returned to Berlin Thursday
night. They tried to seize a motor
car and lighting followed, in which
hand grenades were thrown.
Attacks by workers upon we'll
dressed persons became so frequent
that many of the middle classes dis
carded linen collars and put on their
shabbiest clothes before venturing
into the street. One guest at the
Adlon hotel was beaten because he
was wearing a lined overcoat.
The anger of the workers was in
creased by the rejection of Their
strike conditions by representatives
or the Ebert government. The lead
ers or the workmen were told that
1t was impossible for the govern.
ment to disarm all troops and DO
llcemen at his time because of the
excited condition of the public mind
The work rs held q mass meeting
during the afternoon and decided tC
Keep up the general strike until the
government granted concessions. Ir
some isolated instances striking
Workmen were instructed by loca
leaders to go back to work.
1t appeared tonight that Germany
tate depends on whether the majorit,
socialists and workers stand togethe,
or the workers with the Independent
socialists and insist upon fulhllment O
the radical political and industrial pro.
gram, of the independents whici
among other things. calls for the soviet
system OF councils putting absolut,
dictatorship into the hands Of the pro.
letariat.
The conservative element of the pop.
ulation is ferventy hoping for an ann
cable agreement between Vice. Chan
cellor Eugene Schiller and the socialist
factions to prevent any further fight
ing. This hope is strengthened by tn,
suffering from hunger. No food ha!
come Into the city in nearly weel
and the poorer classes are feeling tn,
pinch of hunger keenly.
Vice Chancellor Schiller. who was the
only representative of the Ebert gov
eminent here today is not a member
of the socialist party, but is conserv.
alive democrat. Consequently he has
little influence with the socialis
workers
The streets OF central Berlin wer,
crowded throughout the day and angry
expressions were heard against tn,
Ebert government as well as agains
the fallen Won Kapp regime. So IA
the reichswchr Government military
police) have been supporting the Eber
government. but It is pointed out thai
these men are professional soldiers
who night for pay rather than patriot
ism"
Fears were expressed that they may
flop to the Spartacists II sufficient in.
ducement is offered
Vice Chancellor Schiller has beer
notified that the British. Swedish anC
Belgian governments will recognize only
the Ebert government.
The banks are now refusing TO ac-
Cept deposits of foreign money.