Evening star., 1921-03-28
UsHERs RED EASTER"
Blast Shakes Berlin in Early Morn
ing and Terrifies People.

BY GEORGE WITTE.
BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1921.
BERLIN, Germany. March es.-Early
Sunday morning all of Berlin was
aroused by a mighty explosion that
shook the earth, ratified the windows
and sent ominous echoes through the
streets of the sleeping capital
Everywhere scantily dressed. pale
faced people hurried to the windows,
and gazing out into the darkness
tremblingly awaited a second explo-
sion. but none came.
Such was the breaking Of Berlin 9
red Easter" The explosion was the
result of an attempt on the part Of
ant railroad bridge in the suburb OF
Charlottenburg. which is used by all
south and westbound trains. The at
tempt to wreck the bridge failed. but
the switch house on one side of the
bridge where the bomb was placed
was blow n up and the walls of nearby
apartment houses were shattered.
ChurchE"ers Nervous.
AS a result ot ;his plot the Berlin
police were put Oh the aler: more than
ever and the patrols we're reinforced.
Thus when / few hours later the
church pells began to ring and thou
sands Of csurchgoerS in every part OF
the city left their homes. still nervous
and fearing that the commI n sts
would start a reign OF terror. they
found the streets quiet and normal
except for the presence of the sesviiJ
armed green police.
Reports late today indicate ;ha.
the police nave the situation well in
l~
varced that The communists in Ber-
lin are waiting until Tuesday before
taking any further action. as all
large industrial plants remain closed
until tomorrow in observance &C
Easter.
looks more threatening. Last night
communists blew UP Two bridges
near Bitterfeld. a large city in the
central German industrial region. and
interrupted compunicat ton between
Berlin on the one side and Leipzig.
the other This sudden new develop
ment has startled the government.
which yesterday WAS quite confident
that it had the situation in hand.
Large numbers of regular troops.
including a regiment CT engineers.
several field batteries and squadrons
of cavalry are being rushed to the
aid of Tie po!ice, who. although sue
cessfui thus far in the campaign
against the red army. are in danger
of being overcome. according to the
latest developments.
Fear New Outbreaks.
officials here place the blame for yes
terday's plots in Berlin AS well as in
the industrial region on individual an
archists. but it seems clear that the
events in Hamburg. Berlin and the GEN.
trail industrial region are parts Of one
plan 1t is feared that the next few
days may bring even more serious de-
velopments and new outbreaks "a places
in Germany which so far have been
quiet On the other hand, it is claimed
that the communists. though much
stronger than they were a year ago, are
still too disorganized to be able to ham,
die the majority Of German working
men.
Another factor against the success Of
the communistic plots is that a large
part of the Ruhr coal district. which
is a hotbed of the radical elements. 10
in the hands of the allies as the result
of the recent penalties. Tho radicals
there are afraid to attempt an armed up
rising in the face Of the allied soldiers.