BATTLE IN BERLIN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 5

BATTLE IN BERLIN.

HEAVY FIGHTING. ARTILLERY AND PLANES USED. jUITRDER AND PLUNDER. 500 KILLED AND 1000 INJURED. LONDON, March 12. Berlin on Monday was like a huge battlefield. Ihe Government occupies the centre, which is cut off. from traffic. The retreating Spartacists are bitterly resisting in the eastern suburbs, preventing trains from reaching the city, foreign postal communication has been suspended, and the trams have stopped running. Rival aeroplanes flew overhead, firing machine-guns and bombing. There are 150 bodies in Berlin morgue to-day. Many neighbourhoods are strewn with debris of masonary and resound with the clatter

of machine-guns and bursting hand-gren-ades and shells. j Terrorism is increasing alarmingly, i Jfurfiering and plundering were never \ more prevalent. A shortage of food in j

gome districts increases the misery. It is significant that the workers largely fvmpathise with the Spartacists. A correspondent in Berlin states that the revolution appears to have gone beyond the control of the leaders. Street fighting continues, despite the calling off of the strike. There are 500 killed and more than 1000 men and women injured as a result of the fighting of the past fewdays.

A German, wireless message states there is little change in the situation in Berlin. On Saturday evening the cavalry cleaied the centre of the city, but fighting continues in the where the Spartacists are defending barricades. They also seized the Boetzow brewery, vhare they are preparing to withstand attacks. The Government troops arc closing in on all sides. Artillery, including heavy howitzers, has begun bombardjoenta, while aviators drop bombs. Plundering continues in certain subnrbs. The Republican Guard at Neukoln plundered the barracks and joined the Spartacists. The disorders have shown that enormous quantities of arms and ammunition remain in the hands of civilians. The Government troops have begun a systematic search of the whole city.—i A. "and N.Z. Cable.) Herr Noske's troops attacked Xeipsic from several points. It is reported they took possession of the city, overthrowing £he Spartacists.— (A. and H.Z. Cable.)