BERLIN MAY DAY FIGHTING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19611, 6 May 1929, Page 11

BERLIN MAY DAY FIGHTING.

' , ♦ HEAVY CASUALTIES. CLASHES CONTINUE. RIOTS IN MANY DISTRICTS. (VXITBB MtS3S ASSOCUTIOK—BT SLSCTEIO vrixawa— co»nuairt.) BERLIN, May 8. Details of the barricade fighting show that it was more serious than cabled at first. The casualties number 300. The armoured can advanced against barricades in the Harmannetrasse, which was blocked for a mile with felled trees. When the police stormed the stronghold, the prospects of the conflict wero so serious that it was decided to postpone the attack till daybreak, heavy bloodshed being foreseen.

In the Neukoelln quarter there was renewed rioting and looting of shops. The district has the appearance of a battlefield, the streets bespattered with blood, suggesting that the rioters sustained heavier losses than they admit. Rioting is reported in the harbour district of Hamburg, and drastic measures which might be applied to a conquered town in wartime nave been proclaimed. In the Wedding and Neukoelln districts nobody is allowed in the street between 9 p.m. an 4 Aim., except doctors and nursee. and even in the daytime nobody is allowed to stand in doorways. Groups of three or more are forbidden. The cafes and beerhouses are closed at 9 o'clock. The police state that this is necessary to show the Communists that they mean business, and will ruthlessly suppress further efforts to cause trouble.

Intermittent fighting continues in the Communist haunts. Demonstrator* stoned the police from windows. The police fired a machine-gun, and two women were killed. " Most of the inhabitants took refuge in the cellars. The police were ordered to shoos without warning persona seen opening windows. Meanwhile, snipers hidden in the roof-tops continue firing on the police parties. The number of injured is steadily increasing. The police casualties are surprisingly small. A Communist call for a general strike met with small success, only about 5000 going out. The Berlin Communist newspaper has been suppressed. —Australian Press Association, United Service.

CITY IS QUIET. (Received May sth, 11 p.m.) BERLIN, May 4. The city is quiet. Casualties, as a result of the three days' of Communist rioting, are between 25 and 36 dead, several seriously injured, and 200 slightly injured.—Australian Press Association. NEW ZEALANDER KILLED.

DISREGARDED POLICE WARNING (Received May sth, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, May 4. Among those killed in last night's rioting was Charles E. Mackay, a New Zealander, formerly of Wanganui and recently doing journalistic work. Apparently he disregarded the police warning and strolled unconcernedly in the streets during the thick of the disturbances. The police found his body lying in the street with a bullet wound in the breast. He was rushed to hospital bat died on the way.—Australian Press Association, United Service. REGRET AT MACKAY'S DEATH. TRIBUTE IN "SUNDAY EXPRESS" (Received May stb, 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 4. The "Sunday Express," in expressing its regret at having to announce the death of Mr MaoKav. says he waa their assistant correspondent at Berlin. The paper publishes a cable message from Mr Sefton Delmer, chief correapondent of the "Daily Express," and "Sunday Express," saying: "Mr MaoKay was one of my best friends, and ono of the most brilliant men I ever met." He describes how together they toured the Wodding district on Friday night till 11.30, when Mr Delmer went to cable London, while Mr MaeKay went to another district with instructions to ascertain from the police whether the disturbance waa continuing. Mr MacKay had no intention of entering the danger tone: if he did, it was by accident. Mr MacKay wore next to his chest an amulet of green jade, given him by a Maori chief. If this exercised any influence at all, it brought only bitter sorrow and disappointment. Mr MacKay was in London last year, and engaged in a business venture in which he put all his money. The cosiness failed and he went to Berlin nine months ago. Mr MacKay's grandfather was an officer in the Maori | War.—Australian Press Association.