Evening star., 1948-09-08
By the Associoted Press

BERLIN, Sept. 8.-American
authorities were trying today to
reach the Russian commandant
in Berlin, Mai. Gen. Alexander
Kotikov, to protest the KIDNAPPING
early today Of 19 Western sector
police after the Soviet chief had
guaranteed them safe passage
from Berlin's besieged City Hall
The 10 policemen were part of
group which took refuge in West
ern power liaison Offices in City
Hall two days ago when Communist
led demonstrators attacked the City
Hall.
Details Of the American protest
were not disclosed. 1t was expected
to include denunciation of strong
arm tactics of Communist rioters
in city hall. Official French sources
also said they would protest.
officials at headquarters of Col
Frank L. HoWley, American COM
mandant, said he was trying to
contact" his Russian counterpart
1t was not learned whether this
would be a joint American British
French action or whether each of
the three powers would protest
separately.
Removed From Convoy.
Russian tommy gunnerS and So
Wet sector police took the 19 west
ern sector police from a French
convoy at the Lustgarten, only a
few blocks from the City Hall
which is in the Soviet sector Of this
divided, blockaded city.
AS the 10 policemen and Ger
man photographer were tumbled
into Russian truck to be hauled
away, French officer protested that
the Russians were pulling some
funny business"
You mean this is q plain double
cross, don't you?' asked an Ameri-
can reporter.
Yes" snapped the Frenchman.
Pretty Shabby Deal"
The Germans release from the
encircled City Hall had been nego-
tiated by the French.
It's a pretty shabby deal from an
international viewpoint" Col. How
ley told correspondents, but the
American people would be more
shocked if they hadn't become ac-
customed to Communist conduct in
the past. We now seem to have
reached the pushing of the side
walk stage in Berlin.
Russian soldiers and their con-
trolled police had thrown double
Gordon around the City Hall yester-
day They prevented anyone from
entering the building or bringing
in food.
1t was an apparent effort to
starve out the 10 Western sector
police who had been brought into
the building to help protect the
anti-Communist city assembly from
Communist demonstrators.
Three times the demonstrators
have invaded City Hall, as Commu-
nists pressed their campaign to take
over Berlin and impose their own
rule.
To escape arrest by their Soviet
controlled rivals. the 19 Western
police took refuge in the Western
Allied lialSon Offices.
Tagged Down by Jeeps.
The French commandant. Brig
Gen. Jean Ganeval negotiated safe
conduct for them with Gen. Kotikov
Soon afterward, the French con-
voy. including two canvas-covered
trucks started to pull away from
City Hall In the party, beside the
police, were II American. British
and French liason officers and COR
respondents.
A few hundred yards from the
building. they were tagged down
by two ieeploads of Russian tommy
gunners About 90 Soviet sector
police then sprang from behind a
building.
Four more ieeploads of Russian
troops roared up from behind to-
gether with truck carrying IS more
Soviet-sector police.
The convoy was surrounded. The
seizure had all the aspects of a
carefully planned trap.
h. Ia q