Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-27
SKETCH OF
EReBEReERs's LIFE

Matthias Erzberger. German vice. premier and minister of fonance, was shot and wounded on January 26, 1920 as he was leaving the criminal court building in Berlin after attending nearing in libel suit he had brought against Dr. Carl Heuler.ch t..e -y-
 1as'rpl.cr. His assaliant 7'" his 1aTe as 0ltwig won Hjrshfield former cadet officer, 20 years old, student, and son of a Berlin bank of flcial. Fon Hirshfield was arrested and was quoted as saying he considered Erzberger dangerous to the empire. The assailant fired two shots at Srz- ebrger as the minister was entering his automobile. One bullet glanced off the minister's watch chain and an- other entered his shoulder.
 Erzberger reused storm in Ger
 .ta1SI7, more than year before the armistice, by proposing a resolution in the German Reichstag in | favor of peace without annexations and for parliamentary reform. Chancel- | Tor Bethmann-H -Hollweg declared this | tferlch subsequently blamed Erzber- formula was unacceptable and Dr. Hell ger s peace proposal for the moral col | lapse of the German people. The for l mer vice. chancellor, accused Erzber- | ger Of high treason, denounced him as "a menace to the purity of our public Lfe" and invited him to bring for I- cared that kirzberrer must be removed from public office If our political life is again to be- come healthy and normal" He assert ed also that Erzberger's fortune had been made during the war by utiIiz- ing his political and parliamentary position.
 Erzberger accepted the challenge and instituted suit for libel. The hear Ing was acrimonious and assumed much political importance. Dr, Helf terlch delivering denunciatory speech es in court while Erzberger vigorously defended himself and his action in seeking peace in 1917.
 Herr Erzberger was for many years and one of the leading figures in Ger leader of the German centre party man public life after Germany's defeat In the war. His peace move of 1917 had made him the storm centre of at- tack by reactionaries,. but when Ger. many's military power collapsed he was made minister without portfolio in the cabinet of Prince Maxmillan.
 As member of Gern1a" --' ''-- delegation he conducted negotiation. with Marshal Foch ana L>.,. tIe Hld loflY S)claHStS In d .f,
 to form new military and sign tn;
 HIs attitude throuehou- the armistice negotiations aroused against him the indignation of Germa military authorities and in June. 191! 1t was reported that his residence haC been fired upon by a Berlin mob. /. plot said to have been formed by mem. r bers of the officers corps at Potsdan to assassinate him was revealed il September following.
 ' Born in Buttenhaus, September 20 v 1S15, Erzberger was the son of a poo t tailor. He become a schoolmaster, ob tained university education, studied international law and political econo
 my, wrote several books on politica and economic subjects and became ; brilliant speaker and politician. H was elected to the Reichstag in 1903 a : member of the Centre (Catholic) part, as representative of small farmers ant became one of the leaders of a smal ; liberal wing of that party He is sai, to have been a pan German durinj the early part of the war and to hay
 engaged actively in spreading Germal
 propaganda. He was accused of hay
 ing recommended the use by Germa, r troops of the flame thrower. Later h e declared Germany's U-boat war ha