The Washington herald., 1922-02-07
BERLIN RElSTRY
TO TURN STRIKE
INTO REVOLUTION
Workers Council Plans
General Walkout to
Establish Soviet.

BERLIN, Feb. 6.-As the NATIONAL
railroad strike becomes worse and
Berlin's water. gas. electric and
steam car strikes have completely
tied up the capital. the BoIshevik
leaders, who hitherto have been
awaiting developments quietly. to-
day are attempting to turn the
strike into a partial revolution. The
storming of the Hanau railroad sta
tion and disorders in Saxony, espe-
cially in Halle and Dresden. were
the first Manifestations of violence
Most important was tonights Sc
cret meeting Of the Berlin workers
council for the purpose Of declaring
a general strike. The department.
of public security fears that should
the workers council declare a gen.
eral strike, II is likely that the
communists will attempt to over
throw the Berlin government In
as much as the present strike is
nearly general 1t is probable that
the other unions will call their
members out.
Aim Mt Soviet Rule.
Furthermore the COMMUNISTS
leaders hope IL they succeed in es-
tablishing a workers' government. the
members Of which already have
been listed, to turn the Berlin gov
ernment into a Soviet. At the same
time it is said they hope to call out
the soviets in Leipzig. Dresden,
Halle and other red centers.
Chancellor wirth discussed the
situation today with Commissioner
Wiessmann, the head Of the depart
ment of public security. The Conn.,
munist headquarters is being
watched. but police believe the Reds
will hold their conference in some
secret place. Some police officials
believe that Karl Radek, a Moscow
leader. arranged the Communist ac-
tivity here, under the assumed name
of Karl Reimer. before he disap-
peared from Berlin a few days ago
Workers Join Reds.
The workers council. in whose
hands the general strike with the
Red aftermath lies, is composed Of
all shades OF opinion. Many Of the
members are pink. but IL is said
these have Joined with the darkest
Reds in opposing the government be-
cause of the governments action in
outlawing the strikers.
Chancellor Wirth was forced to
hold his conferences by candle light.
while the foreign Office used can
dies and kerosene lamps.
The hotels and restaurants were
dimly lit. The cafes. lit by candles
looked like low wharf dives. with
their clientele grouped like conspir-
ators around single candles which
hardly illuminated the food.
The Berlin aquarium was hard hit
When the water supply gave out. the
employees ran to the streets TO draw
water from the hydrants to save the
fish. With the tanks fast becoming
empty. the drains were made smaller,
despite the danger OF the fish dying
from lack OF fresh water. The ZOO
logical garden was especially hard
hit, and the crocodiles almost shed
real tears when the water gave out
100000 Walk to Work.
More than 5oo,0 persons are
walking to work daily. Prussian au-
tomobile owners refuse to give rides,
and the taxi supply is inadequate.
Upter den Linden was pitch black
except the Hotel AdIon, which gets
its light from a private electric sup
ply. The majority of theaters are
closed tonight on account Of the fire
danger due to the lack Of water.
1t is the worst situation in Berlin
since the revolution
Today the steamship companies be-
gan motor truck lines between Brem-
en-, Hamburg and Cologne, with
Americans offering any price for
seats. Thousands of foreigners are
using every means to fee from the
German capital
> (ospynsht, ls11.l