Evening star., 1948-08-29
Russia Accused
OF Starting Riots
To Use Troops
Attack on City Hall
In Berlin Part Of
PIon, AMG, Charges
CRIPPLED Orphan Girl Figures in
New U. -S.-Soviet Dispute. P. A-3.
y the Associoted Press


New U. S.-Soviet Dispute. P. A-3.
By the Assoeioted Press
BERLIN, Aug. 28.-An Ameri-
can Military Government docu-
ment today charged the Russians
with preparing to use Soviet
troops in their drive to oust the
anti-Communist Berlin city gov
eminent.
This weeks Communicated inva-
sions of the city hall in the Rus
sian sector were called part of a
Soviet plan to foment spontaneous
riots" which could provide the in
cldents needed for Intervention by
the Red Army.
The document came to light as
Russian American relations in this
beleaguered capital grew more tense
after wild incident in which speed
ing Russians ran down an Ameri-
can soldier last night. A Soviet
soldier was reported shot.
Council to Meet Again.
A redbearded Russian lieutenant
colonel who said he was riding in
lend-lease jeep told United States
liaison officers:
L didn't want to be stopped and
fall into the hands of an uncivllized,
animal-like people who shoot with
out any provocation.'
AS further strain, the city coun-
Gil served notice it would meet again
next Tuesday in the city hall The
move was planned in the face of
the two invasions of the hall by
Communicated demonstrators de-
manding their own red regime.
The council announced it would
meet despite a Russian brush-off
of its appeal for protection from the
Soviet-backed East Berlin police.
Recent Riots Cited.
The American document. week
ly review of occupational affairs,
said:
The events of August 26 and 27
(Thursday and Friday riots are
part of the Soviet plan, to be i'm
plemented by the Socialist Unity
Party (SEDD, which includes repu-
diation of the city government and
possible spontaneous riots in Berlin
On large scale. perhaps making it
necessary to call in Soviet troops for
the protection of the people.
The plan Is that the city govern
ment can be forced to transfer to
the west without Socialist Unity
Party participation. Establish
ment of peoples government in
the East (Russian) sector would
follow as a matter of course."s
Four gun-brandishing Soviet SOL
diers led by the lieutenant
zoomed wildly through the American
sector of Berlin and ran down an
American military. policeman who
tried to stop them. Pursuing Amer
leans opened fire and. according to
the Russians, wounded one of the
Soviet soldiers.
Americans Give Chase.
The Soviet jeep roared through
roadblocks and escaped in the Rus
sian sector. The Americans gave
chase for 800 yards into Soviet ter
ritory and then withdrew.
Col. Robert A. Willard, United
States troop commander in Berlin,
said in a written, formal protest to
the Russians that American police
fired only as last resort" The
Russians filed counter-protest
charging the Americans with violat-
ing Soviet jurisdiction by entering
their zone.
The American military policeman
suffered broken elbow when he
was knocked off his motorcycle.
Anti-Communist city council lead
ers said they would meet in the
city hall despite failure of Maj. Gen.
Alexander Kotikov, Soviet COM
mander. to give an assuring reply to
a demand for police protection.
Gen Kotikov answered the appeal
with series of counter questions.
He asked whether the government
wanted him to interfere" with the
workers of Berlin who are dis
satisfied with the present policy OF
the city government and demand a
change"
May Set Up New City Hall.
Should Tuesdays meeting again
be interrupted by demonstrators, it
was believed likely the Com
munist council majority would set
up a new city hall in the Western
part of Berlin. The British have
turned down suggestions that the
ruined Reichstag building in their
sector be used for this purpose,
since it lies too close to the Soviet
sector.
Ernest Reuter-, Socialist leader
whose election as mayor of Berlin
was vetoed by the Russians, said
over the controlled Ger
man radio tonight that the Social
lists would not only push back the
Communist drive. but would pay
them back with interest and COM
pound interest"
He said the Socialist Unity Party
was trying to swallow not only
Berlin, but all of Germany"
I'VE tell them that they shall not