New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-28
Assassination Due to MUIR
der Ring in Monarchist
Circles Seeking to Start
Inside War, Berlin View
Cabinet Discusses
Drastic Measures
Other Republican Leaders
Reported Marked by the
Ludendorff Followers
By Joseph Shaplen
Bu Wireless to The Tribune

BERLIN, Aug. 27.-Thc assassina-
tion of Matthias Erzbcrger, former Vice
Chancellor and Minister of Finance, in
the Black Forest yesterday is attrib-
uted to-day to a political murder ring,
organized in monarchist circles to
crush the present German government.
The conviction is held in authoritative
circles that the Junkers committed the
crime in all effort to precipitate an in
ternal war, and the question upper
most here is whether President Ebert,
Chancellor Wirth and their followers
will be able to throttle these efforts of
the Nationalists.
The assassination of Erzberger, the
man most hated by Karl Helfferch,
General Ludendorff and the entire Kai-'
serist group, is regarded as the climax
OF the campaign or murder, which be-
gan with the killing Of Liebknecht and
Rosa Luxembourg and has now laid
low one of the leaders OF new dem
ocratic Germany.
Cabinet Discusses Situation
At hurriedly called meeting Of
the Cabinet and forty leaders of the
Democratic Republicans to-day it was
decided that the government can no
longer remain inactive in view Of the
latest crime Of its opponents. who. in
their own newspapers call for an un-
broken series of meetings throughout
the country to stir the people against
the government Of Chancellor Wirth
These organs charge the government
with yielding to the Allies and Sc
col a,z +rx
posed program Of taxation, whereby
Germany's war profiteers will be com
PEELED to disgorge some OF their loot.
Erzberger, even in the temporary
retirement arising out of his conflict
with former Vice-C Chancellor Helf-
fericn, was acknowledged to be the
guiding force behind the Wirth gov
ernment. He was expected to return
to active political life with the reas-
senlbling Of the Reichstag late next
month and assume the leadership of
Parliament. 1t was no secret that en-
tremc Nationa]ists had been driven
Wild with frenzy over the prospect Of
his return.
Planned Renewal Of Fight
Fully exonerated by the courts of
the charges OF fraud hurled at him
W IAe'i! c'teii' III zUeiSef plaIlned 70
resume his fight against the forces Of
the old Germany, which he held re-
sponsiblc for Germany's downfall. His
strength had been greatly missed by
the Wirth government in its struggle
with an inadequate Reichstag majority
against the ever-growing attacks made
upon it and which attacks had as their
object the oyerthrowing Of everything
that has been accomplished by Chan
celior Wirth in the domain of foreign
affairs: The governments enemies
Legislative program, upon which the
fulillment of the terms imposed b.
the Allies ultimatun1 depends.
Unable to Kill Erzberger politically.
his enemies finally resorted to the last
weapon left them. This weapon they
have been using against others with
telling effect.
Fourteen days after the release Of
Oltwig Won Hirshfed, the officer who
fired at Erzbcrger during bis famous
court battle with Hclffcricb, and two
days after monarchist crowds assem-
bled by General Won der Goltz in a
demonstration at the Grunewald race
track near Berlin called for Erzberger's
blood, the world famous Centrist leader
was killed by twelve bullets fred bv
two assassins.
At that same monarchist demonstra-
ton. lead by Won der Colt the names
OF With. Rathenau and other govern
ment leaders were assaied with equal
bitterness by the reActionarv crowds.
while I.udendorff, standing by in full
fed uniform, nodded his approval.
The Chancellor's mouthpiccc. Ger
mania" openly charges the existence
OF an inner murder circle among Ma
tionalist elements who arc determined
to waylay the foremost Republican,
leaders.
Charges "Helfferich Is Murdercr'
Die Frejheit' cries: "Helferich is
the murderer." while President Locbe
OF the Reichstag, addressing gather
ing Of Cabinet members and part
leaders at the Chancellor's palace. de-
clares: 81 lack words to express the
full character Of this crime, the polit-
lcal origin OF which there can be no
doubt; nor can ] free myself from the
(ContInued on next oaae)