Evening star., 1948-08-03
British Zone Germans
Stone Red Police in
BLACK Market Chase
BY the Assoeioisd Press

BERLIN, Aug. 3.ZGerman ci-
villains stoned Russian sector
police last night when they at
tempted to cross into the British
sector of the city in pursuit OF a
black marketer. One policeman
was reported injured.
There were, two versions Of the
incident, which occurred when So
Wet controlled police squadrons
conducted raids against black mar
keteers at Potsdamer Platz, a favor
ite trading center.
Apparently fleeing from the po-
lice, some of the traders crossed the
occupation border into the British
sector to escape. Then, according
to the British-licensed newspaper
Telegraf, Soviet-controlled police
entered the British area in pursuit.
Crowds in the Potsdamer Strasse
lined up against the police and
clashes occurred the paper said.
There were reports that one pass
erby was dragged out of the British
sector, manhandled by pistol
brandishing Soviet sector police and
dragged off to their headquarters"
Reds Give Version.
The Russian controlled news pa
per Berliner zeitung, in. its ver-
sion of the incident, said one of
the black marketers sought to es-
cape and called on people in the
streets for help.
HE shouted that he was Brit
ish sector resident and that the
Soviet sector police were trying to
kidnap him." the zeitung said.
"Thereupon several passerbys ran
to his aid, threw stones at the po-
lice and injured one officer"
No official British comment on
the incident was available. Russian
sector police headquarters acknowl-
edged only that raids had been
made.
There has been increasing bitter
ness between police in the Russian
and Western sectors, since the po-
lice chief muddle. Both anti Com
munist Johannes Stumm and Mos
COW trained Paul Markgraf claim
to be chief.
American officials have held up
plans for dealing with the currency
mix-up in Berlin. Informants said
they are waiting to hear what hap
pened in last nights talks in Mos
COW between Prime Minister Stain
and western ENJOYS.
American occupation authorities
met with German bankers yesterday
to consider means of dealing with
the Soviet freeze of accounts Of
Western Berlin firms.
The Russians froze the accounts
last week. They claimed Irregular
tiles in deposits made by Western
Berliners in connection with the
recent currency exchange when old
notes were turned in for new Soviet
zone money.
American sources said it had been
planned to empower German banks
to issue loans to the firms to tide
them over, but the plan was post
poned at the last minute pending
developments from the conference
with Mr.. Stain.
Police Arresting Police.
Meantime, in the Soviet sector of
the city Russian-backe police be-
gan an arrest on sight campaign
against their counterparts in the
Western sectors.
American public safety officers
said last night that four sector
policemen were seized over the week
end when they entered the Eastern
sector. They still are in custody.
American informants said the
Russian sector police are acting un-
der blanket orders to arrest any
policeman working for Stumm, who
recently was appointed police chief
by the anti Communist city gov
| ernment.
1887 Flights in July.
The United States Air Force re-
vealed that American pilots ferrying
food and supplies to blockaded Ber-
lin flew the equivalent of almost
200 times around the world during
July.
The Air Force said 40,411 tons Of
supplies were carried into the city
| in 1887 flights. American cargo
planes chalked up 1927 $40 miles,
flying on instruments 68 per cent
of the month because of bad
| weather.
In Frankfurt, officials of the Brit
h-American zones announced last
night a $154 ,00O, 900 trade agreement
had been reached with the Neither
lands.