The New York herald., 1921-07-03
GERMANY HAS NOT
GONE COMMUNIST
Uprisings in Easter Week
Abortive, Exaggerated
and Not Significant.
WORKERS HOLD ALOOF
Leaders Mostly Unframed
Youths, Adventures and
Nondescripts.
OLD ANARCHY DAYS GONE
Full Disarmament Would
Have Averted Easter
Week Bloodshed.
WORKERS HOLD ALOOF
OLD ANARCHY DAYS GONE

Week BlOOdshed.
Special Correspondence to The New YoHK
HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Berlin, June 22.
The Communist uprisings of Easter
week in Germany did not prove that
there is impending danger of Bolshe
vism In this part of western Europe.
On the contrary it brought to light the
irresponsible agitation and trivial
leadership OF the German Communist
party, and emphasized its consequent
want of influence over the great ma
Jority of German people.
The uprising shows that the Ger
man workers have not gone red"
and, If anything, that there is less
revolutionary spirit in Germany to-
day than at any time since the Armis-
tice. The German workmen are per-
haps as little inclined toward politicaH
action as any people in the world.
They have not the least enthusiasm
about spreading throughout the world
any political doctrines, communism or
any other.
1t was also misleading to speak of the
conflict between the German Govern
ment forces and the Reds as military
operations" of Central Saxony as the
front" and even more so Of the bands
which attempted to establish soviets as
a "red army" The Communist uprising
a. least had the value Of showing up
the absurdity of the statements of many
alarmists who for reasons OF their own
talked Of the enormous secret Com
munist army" / saw various Of these
red armies during the uprising, and not
one Of them either In leadership, organ
ization or equipment was worthy of the
name.
"Reds" Blamed for BIoodshed.
There is no doubt that the RESPONSE
biity for much needless bloodshed last
March rests with the Communist party
How much of this can be put on Moscow
which now and then Is supposed to need
n blood bath" abroad to help along the
revolution at home, 1t is difficult to say.
Keeping the peoples of western Europe
constantly agitated, arousing class feel
ing and hatred. snc increasing popular
misery as the best breeder of militant
communism are tactics which I heard
and which no doubt are dear to some
Communist hearts.
Even here in Germany a part OF the
German Communist party hesitated to
arouse the workers to arms. Most OF
the leaders obviously kept their hands
off. The big Berlin party went only half
as far as that of Halle. In some parts
of Germany the party ventured no ac-
tion whatever. Indeed In the fighting
a Ill
divided.
At the Leuna works the Communist
head Of the workers council. for ex-
ample. told me that he opposed this ac-
ton as badly timed and plain suicide
The Zeiss works. which l visited at the
time. though nearly half Communist,
gave no support to the action. and the
same was almost as true of Leipsic, one
of the strongholds of the party.
Notable of the leadership In the March
uprising was that most OF the torch
bearers were young. irresponsible boys
who never played any part in the Ger
man labor movement. and who had not
the slightest claim to the confidence Of
the German workers. They were not as
many OF the papers pretended. Russians
or other foreigners. Most OF them were
mepnbers OF the so-called Communist
Labor Party. which has the blessings OF
Moscow but which Is not a member of
the Third Internationale. The leaders
of this party are, for the most part.
young fanatics. many OF them over
worked "1ntellectuelle. who have made
themselves dizzy with their own phrases.
leaders Are Unframed Boys.
The rank and file among the Com
munist Labor Party are not the Ger
A,,A
up during the war unframed, who either
ran wild in the streets, or who earned
fat wages holding war jobs. Among
them too Is sprinkling OF so-called
National Bolsheviks, nationalists, who.
finding that Hohenzollern nationalism
does not pay, are now trying the
Trotzky brand.
The military conspiracies OF these
groups would be funny had they not led
to the death of so many misguided
workers. Some weeks ago a so-called
and prosecuted by the Government at
Halle with much gusto Nationalists
who hoped again to draw salaries by
carrying guns shook their heads and
talked OF the dangers from the Bolshevik
uprising in Germany. There was ur-
doubtedly a conspiracy. but the military
plans OF this band were too childish for
serious comment.
That the German Communist mill
tants were committing a military folly
was amply proved by the March upris-
ing. Albert, one OF their own mem
bers. publicly in the Red Flag, warned
the workers that armed action would be
folly at time when the other crowd
had most OF the guns
Times have changed since the old
Liebknecht days when every man had
his gun and was in the habit OF carry
ing It, This uprising proves that dis
armament at least as far as the indi-
vidusl German citizen goes. has been
effective. The Orgesh and so-calied
home defence organization still have
their rifles tucked way. but the indi-
vidual German, whether worker or man
In the office. gave up his last year.
tempted by the premium
The much exaggerated red army"
therefore went into the field with no ar
tllery, very few heavy and light ma
chine guns, and not one rife for five
men The so-called fortress OF the Leuna
works despite fantastic stories had only
$50 rifles. four light and one heavy ma