Evening star., 1933-02-28
GERMANY
VIRTUAL MARTIAL
LAW IN RED PERIL
Cabinet Acts After ReichStag
Fire and Result of Raid
on Communists.
OUTLAWING OF PARTY
BY HITLER EXPECTED
Instructions for Poisoning Food
Reported Found-13O Seized
by Police in Roundup.

BERLIN, February % (F).-Presi-
dent Won Hindenburg today placed
the German Republic under virtual
martial law by signing an emer-
gency decree giving the police
extraordinary powers to enforce
order.
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN February 28.-Virtual mar
tial law under police regime was de-
cided upon by the German cabinet to-
day.
The cabinet, which had been in ses-
sion since IL am, adjourned at 2:30
pm. until 5 pm. It had heard re-
port from Wilhelm Goering, minister
without portfolio, upon the fire which
damaged the Reichstag building yester-
day and the result of a raid last week
by police on Karl Liebknecht House,
Communist headquarters on Buelow-
platz.
A military state of emergency was
refrained from in order to keep the
reichswehr (standing army out OF
political action, but the measures to
be decreed will have the effect Of plac-
ing Germany under a state Of emer-
cency, with the sole object of meeting
Communist danger.
Herr Goering reported that material
seized in Karl Liebknecht House in
cluded forged orders to the police and
to Nazi storm troopers and even in
cluded instructions for poisoning wells
and food
Elections Will Be Held.
According to the testimony of two
men who were arrested. they telephoned
yesterday evening to the Socialist or
gan Vorwaerts, at the request OF this
paper, that Herr Goering himself had
arranged for the Reichstag fire.
The Communists, he said, were pre-
pared for further acts OF terrorism.
some of which would be committed by
men in the uniforms of police, the Steel
Hermit organization and the Nazi.
The minister further informed the
press that elections for the Reichstag
and the Prussian Diet would be held
next Sunday under all circumstances.
According to one press liaison officer,
the Communist votes in the next Reich
stag simply will not be counted, as they
will be considered non-German.
The government estimates that year
will elapSe before the ReichStag Build
ing can be occupied.
The Hitler government ordered pro-
hibition of the entire Leftist Press and
the arrest of the 100 Communist men,
bers Of the last Parliament.
Both orders were regarded as fore
runners to the outlawing of the Com
muniSt party.
Among 100 persons arrested by noon
Pacifist League fof Human Rights and
several radical writer's.
Ernst Torgler, Communist floor lead
er of the Reichstag, voluntarily pre-
sented himself to police.
Police squadrons occupied the build
ing housing the Vorwaerts, principal
newspaper of the Socialist party, for
four hours this morning, conflscating
truckloads of election propaganda.
The two Leftist parties formed the
bulk of the majority opposition against
the Hitler regime in the Reichstag dis
solved this month, holding 221 OF the
554 seats The Communists and Hitler
ties formed the two largest parties in
the Prussian Diet, which was dissolved
also.
Building Fired in Is Places.
Outlawing Of only the Communists
was expected to assure Chancellor
Hitler's party of control in both the
Reichstag and Diet to be elected Sun
day.
Investigation disclosed the Reichstag
Building, which includes some offices OF
Chancellor Hitler and other oncials'
was fired in Is different places.
A 24-year-old youth named Van Der
Lubbe admitted setting fire to the IA
nous Parliament building. He came
from Amsterdam, where an investigation
disclosed he was known as Commun-
ist and founded his own party In Hol-
land. Many persons thought the f1re
was set by others so Communists could
be blamed.
The youth was caught running from
the Reichstag building last night by
police. He admitted starting one fire
on the main floor and police believed
he had accomplices who escaped.
Prominent Communist Reichstagers
were reported seen fleeing from the
building. =
No official estimate Of the damage
has been made, but it was expected to
amount to several million marks.
The interior of the plenary hall. the
members seats, the presidents tribune
and public galleries were destroyed.
One fireman was temporarily over
come by smoke, but none was injured.
The building, measuring 420x3O0
feet, stands on the bank OF the Spree
River and cost more than $6,000,OO0 to
construct.
Hitler Assails Communists.
Giving assurance 'the governments
fist will descend heavily upon the Com
munists, Chancellor Hitler, inspecting
the Reichstag Building, told CORE
spondent of the Voelkische Beobachter,
the chancellor's newspaper:
Here you see what Communism has
in store for Germany and for Europe.
This deed was dictated by Communists
by sinister spirit"
The fire brigade was still pouring
water on the smouldering ruins.
Nazis and members of the storm
troops and steel helmet organizations
numbering 10000 have been enrolled
as auxiliary police throughout Prussia
and have been provided with revolvers
The Executive Committee of the
Social Democratic faction, protesting
against the suppression of Socialist
newspapers, said: 1.-THE assertion that
the Social Democratic party had any
thing to do with the Reichstag incen-
diarism is so preposterous as to be
unbelievable by normal-minded persons"
Prussian Police started searches Of
Communist rendezvous and private
homes for weapons and illicit literature.
PROvOCATORS BLAMED.