Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-21
Russians Seize
In West Sector
z From U. S. Zone
Of Berlin Stabbed,
Beaten by Troops
q the kssoeioted Press

Western sector German police
men today-tWo with violence
In continuation of raids which
Americans fear may grow into a
serious international incident.
The Soviet forces struck again
after the Americans had announced
they would seek face-to-face talks
with the Russians to try for a truce
In the conflict involving Berlin S
divided police force.
Headquarters of the Western sec
tor police announced a large party
OF Russian soldiers halted two Ger
man plainclothesmen from the
American zone near the sector
border, stabbed one, beat the other
with rife butt, and carried them
into the Soviet zone bodily after they
refused to cross the line.
Two German policemen of the
British sector were the others kid
mapped. One escaped later and the
British are demanding return of the
second.
Tension Mounts Hourly.
The Russians yesterday seized five
policemen from the American zone
Two of them have ESCAPED. The
Americans have asked return of the
others but received no reply. Thus,
OF the nine policemen taken, the
Russians still hold six
Tension mounted hourly in this
divided four-power city Russian
soldiers, tommyguns at ready,
patrolled their side of the sector
border. A short distance away. I'M
der the Russians cold stares, Brit
lsh and American patrols were on
the alert.
The Russians have made a series
of lightning raids into the Western
sectors, ostensibly against black
marketeers. The Soviet backed
police will continue raids whether
high-placed protectors Of Berlin
profiteers like it or not" Col. Alex
ander Jelisarov, Soviet deputy COM
mander, said in a statement broad
cast by the Russian controlled Der.
lin radio.
Violent Clash Feared.
American authorities acted tc
head off a possible violent clash
between East and West sector police
forces which could turn into seri-
GUS international incident.
The Americans announced they
will seek face-to-face talks with the
Russians to try for truce in the
conflict involving Berlin's divided
police force. The Russians have
served notice they will continue their
raids in downtown Berlin. staged
ostensiblv to catch black marketeers
The Americans said there is q
growing danger the clashes may grow
into serious international incidents
The Soviet backed police chief
Paul Markgraf. already has made
1t clear he will recognize no sector
boundaries in Berlin.
British, Strengthen Patrols.
The British annocnced they are
strengthening their military police
and German police patrols at Pots
damer Platz, where the Eastern and
Western sectors meet, because OF
violent disturbances during the
week. There, this morning, three
German press photographers were
reported arrested by the Russians
Gerhard Stindt, American neWsreel
photogra pher for Metro-Goldwyn-
Mayer. was held briefly and then
released. He said the Russians had
accosted him as he was standing
inside the British sector.
Some pessimism was expressed
that the Russians would listen to
American proposals to head off the
possibility OF more serious clashes
The police department split came
with Soviet refusal to accept action
by the city government which dis
missed Markgraf and appointed
Johannes Stumm as chief in his
place. Since then Soviet controlled
forces have arrested at least 20
Western sector officers.
Theft Charge as Pretext.
At the beginning the pretext usu-
ally was theft charge. In the last
two days, however, the Russian
soldiers and military police have
Joined German police of the eastern
sector and openly invaded British
and American sectors for purposes
of kidnapping.
The British, meanwhile, formally
demanded that the Russians explain
their arrest of Curt Mueckenberger
director of Berlin's central coal of =
fee. The British said Socialist
Mueckenberger was an official with
clty-wide powers and therefore re-
sponsible to all four occupying pow
ery. They asked the Russians what
charges were made against him.
Boundaries Overstepped.
American and British authorities
have contended that in some Of
the raids against alleged blacl
marketeers the Russians have over
stepped sector boundaries. Tht
Western Allies have several time:
found it necessary to dispatch theil
own forces to the borders to preserve
order.
An official source said American
authorities, seeking to arrange dis.
clSSions on the subject, had tele.
phoned the Russian commandant o,
Berlin. Maj. Gen. Alexander Koti.
kov, and his deputy, Col. Jelisarov
Their Offices said both Russians wer,
out Of town for the week end. /
was indicated that renewed effort
for conferences would be mad
Monday.
Disregarding sectional boundaries
Sovlet-controlled German police
backed by Russian tommy gunners
bounced on alleged black marketeer
in two blitz raids yesterday. TIL,
raids were made in Potsdame
Platz in the heart of Berlin, wher,
the American. British and Sovie
sectors converge.
In one sally the raiders thrus
into the American sector and pnket
up five American sector police, in
GLIDING q borough chief.
In q swift counter measure. Ger
man police Of the Western sector
last night ordered motorized re-