The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-25
POLICE BATTLE
FOR HOURS AT
ELSLEBEN RIOT
Bodies of Dead and
Wounded Lie Upon
Streets.

Berlin, March 25.-(Associated
Press belief was expressed in
government circles today that un-
less the Communists succeed in
tying up mid -Germany's industrial
areas in . general strike, the gov
ernment will be able to cope with
the rioting prevailing in Eisleben,
Mansfield, Hettstedt and Leunea.
Eisleben. Germany, March "a
ASSOCIATED Press) The street
fighting as a result Of the COM
munist outbreak which has been In
progress for the last forty hours
in this important copper mining
town Of Saxony, was continuing
desperately tonight with hand-to-
hand combat at the railroad sta
ton and in the streets In the cen.
ter Of the city.
The rattle Of machine gun fire.
the crash of hand grenades explo-
sions and the popping of rifles has
been going on steadily for the last
three hours. Two thousand police
were holding the east half Of the
town, while $500 workmen were
in possession of the western sec.
ton. All the workers are heavily
armed and well disciplined.
The intensity Of the fighting may
be judged from the fact that tht
railroad station changed hands
twice in the 20 minutes preceding
the filing of this dispatch. The po
lice now are In possession Of thu
station.
Bodies Of the dead and severei.
wounded were still lying tonigh
in the streets where the victim
fell 20 hours ago. The less severe
! ly wounded were crowded in shell
tered doorways, with bullets rails
ing tufts Of dust about them.
The extent OF the casualties OF
either side is not definitely known
but at least 20 were killed and 81
wounded in this mornings fighting
| Cut All Wires.
Railroad and telephone commu
nication with Eisleben have beef
'cut. and no automobilist havinl
been found daring enough to ente
the city in his car. The CORE
spondent came into the town OF
foot.
The telegraph Office was foun,
In the hands of the police, VIII,
consented to transmit this repOr
Of the fighting, the sending pro
ceeding while machine guns rake'
the adjacent streets and the peo
pie living nearby were huddled il
their darkened houses, peekini
through the blinds.
The workmen were holding tn
municipal lighting plant, but per
mitted its continued operation.
All the roads leading into thi
town are under fire.
The fighting at this hour appear
ed to be growing in intensity an
it seemed probable that furthe
wire communication with the out
side world would have to be from
Gale, Is miles distant
London, March 25.AAlthough tn
situation arising from the commu
mist outbreak in Germany is still
dangerous, the communists are be
ing overcome by the forces of Law
and order, according to report
from the different centers, says
Central News dispatch from Berlil
today.
Investigation Of the reporte
communist attempt to blow up tn
statuary in the Sieges Alice in Ber
lin, is declared to have reveale'
the existence Of a widespread con
spiracy of violence, which was t
have been started today, Goo
Friday.
Paris Viewpoint.
Paris, March 25.-Official circle
here regard the communist upris
ling in Germany as spurious,
basinE their judgment on dis
patches received in this city.
The latest reports reaching OF
fetal. quarters are to the effect tina
a large number Of Russian bolshe
Wiki succeeded in entering Ham
burg. bringing with them larg
supplies. Of money for propagand
purposes. The uprising there is al
ltributed, for the most part, to thei
influence.