The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1921-03-25
BIG VICTORY IS
WON BY GE RNANs
~ roo -
Carry Silesia by 1,011,500 to
10000, Is Report.
BERLIN is GAILY BEFLAGGED
Great Rejoicing in Many German Cities
Over the BloodIess Ballot Victory
Reports Say the Election
Went Off Quietly.

Berlin, March 22.-Berlin and other
German cities are gaily befagged for
the first time in many months, in hon
or of the blOOdleSs German ballot VIC
tory in the plebiscite in Upper Silesia.
The new colors of the republic
black, red and gold-are floating over
the reichstag building.
In WilhelmStrasse, the still more
popular black, white and red, the for
mer German national e0lors, now the
navy flag, is floating from many masts
alongside the republican flag, giving
expression to the two strong contrary
political currents in Germany.
AS hardly a flag has been seen In
Berlin since the revolution except the
international red which has been car
ried in demonstrations, the floating
colors attracted general attention.
Aside from that there was no more
manifestation of enthusiasm over the
pIebiscite victory than there were out
ward signs of depression when the
British and French troops marched
into the Ruhr district a few days ago.
Claim Industrial Dlstrlct.
The returns reaching Berlin indicate
that 81 per cent of the plebiScite went
for Germany and 80 per cent for Po-
land. The big industrial district is
considered safely German.
A number of smaller border sections,
including Rybnik, Pless and Tarne-
witt, have chosen to go with Poland.
The result as a whole, so far as can
be judged now, indicates big disap-
pOintment for Poland.
OF the total votes counted thus far
1,O11 500 are for remaining with Ger
many and 368,900 favor going over to
Poland.
1t is understood that the German
government is already getting together
the necessary documentary evidence
to protest the plebiScite vote in PleSs
and Rybnik, which went to Poland.
These two districts contain large vir-
gin coal fields which have not yet been
developed.
Notwithstanding Ominous predic-
tions both by the Poles and by the
Germans that the plebiscite would be
marked by much bloodshed, it appears
that the election went off quietly in the
entire area except for few minor in
cidentS.
The task of taking to their homes
throughout Germany the 250,000 for
mer Silesians who went to their old
homes to vote required 225 special
trains
Collision Reports Unconfirrned
The plebiscite was carried out
everywhere in perfect order, accord
ing to a semiOficial statement made
here. There is no confirmation of re-
ported collisions with British troops.
The area involved in the plebiscite,
comprising some 5000 square miles,
was the largest section of territory to
have it's fate submitted to a popular
referendum under the treaty of Ver-
sailles, but even more important thar
the size of the district was the mate
rial wealth contained in it's varied
mineral resources, mainly coal. but
also including iron, zinc and lead.
A noticeable feature of the plebis.
cite was the influx of both Germans
and Poles, former residents of the dis
trict, who were invited to cast their
ballots. It is not known here how
large a number of Poles were thus
enabled to vote at the election.