Evening star., 1948-12-07
Reuter-, Foe Of Reds,
Becomes Lord Mayor
OF Divided Berlin
800 Who Quit Communist
Power Office Go to
Work in West Sector
BY the Associated Press

BERLIN, Dec. T. Socialist
Ernst Reuter-, an outSpoken foe
of communism, became Lord
Mayor of blockaded and sun
dered Berlin today.
The newly elected City Assembly
chose him unanimously to finish the
present mayoral term, in expecta-
ton that he would be continued in
office when the Assembly meets in
January.
The Russians. who have a rump
Communist government in theil
occupation sector of Berlin, do not
recognize Mr. Reuter-. His sway is
over the three Western zones o.
about half the area of Berlin and
more than 100000 people.
Mr.. Reuter- led the Social Demo-
cratic Party to a smashing victory
in the Western sector city elections
last Sunday. The Russians for
bade the election in their sector and
Communists boycotted the ballot
ing The new Mayor will replace
acting Mayor Louise Schroeder, also
a Socialist, who reverts to Deputy
Mayor. A Russian veto prevented
Mr.. Reuter-, reformed Communist,
from taking Office last year.
Administrative Staff Split.
The East West conflict split the
administrative staff of the city's
power company.
Eight hundred employees of the
company. Bewag, angry at Com
munist police interference in their
affairs. reported for duty at a new
office in Western Berlin instead OF
at headquarters in the Soviet sector
Four hundred employees whose
homes are in the Russian-occupied
area stayed on at the old head
quarters by agreement with those
who left. 1t was said the 400 would
risk Communist reprisals if they
joined the protest.
Reds Denounce Election.
In both Berlin and Moscow the
Russians denounced the election
which Communists boycotted, with
the declaration that the rump
regime they recently seated in the
Soviet sector was the legal govern
ment for all Berlin.
Col. Alexander Jelisarov, acting
Soviet commandant of Berlin, sale
in a statement issued by the Soviet
licensed Adm news agency that
threats from German and men
German" (Allied) officials and AL
lied military demonstrations haC
prevented the Germans from ex-
pressing their free win.
The Moscow radio declared "the
great mass of the population" is
behind the Communist regime.
The Sunday election was care
fully rehearsed and played accord
ing to the script prepared by West
ern power occupation authorities.
Commentator Boris Isavoc said in an
English Language broadcast.
Power May Be Split.
The breakup of the Bewag ad-
ministrative staff foreshadowed a
possible final division of the power
company, which has two power
plants in the Russian sector and
three in the Western sectors.
No. definite indication has yet
been given whether Western-domi-
ciled technicians working in East
ern plants will follow the office
workers in the split.
| Eastern Berlin enjoys a rationeo
but adequate supply of electric cur
rent since its plants draw on soft
coal stocks near at hand in the
Soviet occupation zone.
The electric supply of Western
Berlin. because of the Soviet lane
blockade. is rationed sharply. Cur.
rent is cut off completely 20 hours &
day. Every ton of coal used by the
Western plants is moved by the
British and American airlift.