The Washington herald., 1921-03-31
Victories by Police Fail
To Check Spread of
Revolt.
STRIKES GENERAL
IN HALE DISTRICT
Unrest and Rioting In
crease Among Towns of
Ruhr Section.
Especial Gable to The wsshington Esrnld
and New York Tribune.)
by WILLIAM 4. DREHER-


BERLIN. March 5o.-The commu-
mist strike and Insurrectionzry
movement continues with little
abatement.
The Communists have been
worsted in slmose> every night with
the police. but riotious outbreaks
continue TO appear in new localities.
Dresden. Chemnitz. Mannheim. and a
large section of the Ruhr district.
are in a state Of ferment. The
Reds, driven eastward from Halle.
have established themselves between
Halle and Leipzig. They suddenly
opened machine-gun fire there yes
terday upon a detachment Of police.
killing three onicers in command
and ten policemen.
Halle TrosbIes.
The Halle strike has become al
most general. The Communists held
meeting at Pierna. near Dresden.
and resolved 10 prevent fOrcibiy
work in all the factories. The sit
ustion in Dresden is also critical.
the Communists holding mass meet
!
Similar conditions exist in Chem
nitz where the Communists are very
strong. The Communists tried to
create a demonstration in the public
square Of Mannheim yesterday until
the police finally used weapons, kill
inG three and wounding five.
Strikes and rio;ing have assumed
more serious proportions in the
Ruhr district. A number Of pitched
battles between the Communists
and the police were reported yes
terdsy in which the Reds had heavy
losses. The losses OF the police
were slight
Banks Looted.
The Communists exploded > and
robbed the Reichsbank branches in
Mettman and GovelsbcrG. but both
places were later recapturcd by
the police. who recovered part Of
the stolen money from the pockets
OF the prisoners. The Communist
lost nifty killed in the hght near
GovelsberE: the police none
Fighting also occurred in Gruiten.
which was occupied by the Com
munists. The latter were driven
out with a loss Of thirteen killed.
the police losing five. Another re-
port gives the Communists losses
at thirty and many Of them taken
as prisoners.
Forty KILLED.
Heavy lighting occurred bctwe~r
Langerfeld and Schwelm. where the
forty dead communists lie between
the lines.
Prospects for a general STRIKE in
the Ruhr district. where many other
nights are reported. is regarded as
improbable because only the Com
munistS demand one. while all the
other work men strongly oppose ~
good illustration of divided feel
ing occurred yesterday in the iron
works, where the working fore.
cudceled and drove of the Com
nunists hands that forced their wav
into the works and tried to inau-u-
rate a strike.
strikes In Berlin.
Such attempts by the Communists
and unemployed occurred Yesterday
in all tho big electrical and rnschin.
shops Of Perrin but were all unsu~-
cessful because Of the timely inter
rentton Of the police who made
many arrests.
inc communists are still trying
however 10 start strikes, distrihut-
ing flaming han.ib.lls literally. Tn,
police have been arrcstinE distribu-
tors and breaking up the printing
ohices where they are printed The
National and Prassian cabinets neld
a joint sitting yesterday to agree
on line Of acticn and decided TO
continue the energetic suppression
OF the Communists by the police
with che Reichwehr held in reserys
and ready for immediate action.
President Ebert yesterday issued
a decree establishing special courts
for the speedy trial OF Communists
insurgents SittinIs will begin ss
scon as possible and severe penalties
are expected. There is a general de-
mand for the strenuous punishment
OF criminals masquersding as po-
litical revoiutionists
Copyright 1871 New York Trihu,. la