New Britain herald., 1922-06-24
Dr. Walter Rathenau Shot Down as He Was Leay- ing His Residence, Just Outside of Berlin
During War He Was One of Germany's Leading Pow- ers-U. s. Flag Put at Half Mast in His Honor.

Berlin, June 24.-(By Associated Press)-Dr. Walter Rathenau. Ger man minister Of foreign affairs was assassinated this morning. The minister WIS shot and killed as he was leaving his residence in Grune- wald. suburb Of Berlin, for the for eign office in an automobile. The as- assin escaped. Official announcement of Dr. Rath- enaus death was made in the ReAh- stag.
 Assassin Shoots Twice. The murderer, who was driving in motor car, slowed up as he was l nearing Dr. Rathenau and shot twice at the foreign minister, the shots talk ing immediate fatal effect. Putting on | high speed the assassin escaped. U. $. Flag at Half Mast. pr. Rathenau was guest at dinner last night of Alanbon B. Houshton,the American am bassador. On receiving news of the assassination of the for eign minister, the American embassy promptly hoisted its flag to half mast Dr. Walter Rathenau was styled "the wizard of the German empire" because by his high powers of organi- zation and business efficiency, he de- vised expedients which kept the people eating and the army shooting'' | when the blockade had shut of the | importation of raw materials during the war
 Was of Jewish Birth. During the war as minister of re- construction his meetings with the French minister, Louis Loucheur, l brought about with busipesslike II 1 rectpess adjustments assd sofiyentI tfa which had been the despair of diplo- mats.
 He was of Jewish birth. and was | described as man Of great force and energy, business acumen, vision and 1 initiative.
 At the outbreak of the world war while immersed in the development of big business on a tremendous scale he was offered the office of minister of raw materials. His work in that ca pacity obtained extraordinary results.
 Was Power During War. Upon the success of his work, de- pended not only the economic life of the interior of Germany but also the maintenance of the far-fung German armies. His organization almost nullified the allies blockade. No clue to the identity of the mur- derer had been discovered up to noon today.
 Near Riot In Reichstag. The assassination of pr. Rathenau. followed hard upon a vitriolic attack on the foreign minister by Dr. Karl Helfferch in the Reichstag yesterday when the nationalist leader grilled the government generally and pr. Rath- enau in particular concerning the cabinets separations policy and its attitude toward the populations of the Rh.neland and the Saar valley.
 News of the assassination reached the Reichstag at II o'clock just when the commission on taxation had con- v~ned. Chancellor Wirth announced the assassination upon which pande- rronium broke out among the various rnrty groups of the deputies.
 Two socialists jumped up shouting ec Dr. Helfferich:
 You are the assassin!"
 They threatened to bounce upon hun and Dr, Helfferich hastily left the committee room.
 In one of the Reichstag lounges q Eeated outbreak of recrimination oc- c%rred between a group of deputies hslenging to the left and a party of representatives of the other extreme in She chamber.
 Nkan the news was communicated to t.s Reichstaf at 1925 o'clock it was recei'-ed with deep emotion. Then -amid~ a turmoil-the Reichstag adjourned.
 Among vernment officials the word that Dr. Rathenau had been assassinated can~ as a stunning blow. Several of the ministers who had been awaiting the f~'eign minister's arrival for the cabinet meeting burst into tears and the meeting ras aban- doned.
 Two in Death Car.
 There were two persons in the automobile from which the shots that killed Dr. Rathenau were fired. r. appears that his car was nearing the Cprn6r CLOSE to ms mousse anu nan re- duced its speed when the machine containing the assassins was encount- cred. Both the occupants are said to have opened fire upon the foreign minister who fell to the floor of his car fatally wounded, expiring shorr- fly afterward,
 Cs6sl Hand Grcnades.
 The fatal shot struck Dr. Rathenau in the chin. taking an upward course. A half dozen other bullets perforated his back. The assailants also threw hand grenades which exploded in the minister's car. injuring his legs and wrecking the bottom of the cal
 It has been established by the po- lice that the shots were fired by two persons in a strange automobile and that they used automatic pistols.
 Chief of Police Richter personally is conducting the investigation.