CIVIL WAR IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 5

CIVIL WAR IN GERMANY

BERLIN AND MUNICH ISOLATED WILL THE ALLIES INTERVENE? VON EICHORN'S COUP By Telegraph—Ptces Association—Oopynght Geneva, January 8. Telegraph communication from Vienna to Berlin and Munich has been interrupted since midnight on Sunday. The •Swiss papers are of opinion that civil war has broken out. Woman an'o taking an active part in the riots. It is supposed that the Allied armies on the Rhine would immediately interfere, to keep South Germany quiet. Von Eichorn has established himself and the heads of the police offices in Borlin with the soldiers of a ''security force," who we bound, on oath to defend von Eichorn to the last.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ITGHTING, BUT-LITTLE BLOODSHED. London, January 8. The latest news from Berlin states that there is fighting in many quarters, though little bloodshed has occurred so far. Dr. Liebknecht and von Eichorn are heading the revolt, with tho police presidency as headquarters.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CAREFULLY "pRiPARED. COUP ' STORY OP BOLSHEVIK ORGANISATION. London, January 8. The "Daily Chronicle's" Rotterdam correspondent says tlie startling fact hag been disclosed that the German Workers' Councils have taken precautions to retain strong military forces in readiness for the crisis: The councils so arranged the demobilisation as to release only those troops who do not possess the revolutionary spirit. These were mostly the industrious and sober elements, who were anxious to return to their homes at the earliest moment. Thus the rei mainder now under arms is a "Red army, with which are associated many disorderly characters, who prefer the Bolshevik regime to tho resumption of civil work. Herein is the secret of the success of the Berlin coup. The plot was evidently carefully prepared, to take Herr Ebert by surprise, but countermeasures are likely to plunge the capital into civil .war.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE LATEST NEWS CONFLICTING MESSAGES (Rec. January 9, 7.30 p.m.) Berlin, January 7. .Berlin, advices dated January 7, and received via Berne, state that Herr Leclebour, and three other Parliamentarians discussed with the Government measures to avoid further bloodshed. A truce-has been reached, the Spartacusians apparently accepting: the Governments condition, namely, the disbandment of all armed forces excepting soldiers; the immediate evacuation of al lbuldmgs, and the submission of Eichorn. A later message says hat the" Spartacusians have seized the arsenals at Spandau. Fighting continued in Berlin all night, and Eichorn is momentarily maston of the situation. The "Frankfurter Zeituug states that the Spartacusians were eventually ejected from the Chancellor's Palace, but still occupy the Post Office.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN ACT OF TREACHERY (Rec. January 9, 7.30 p.m.) .' ■'■ Berne, January 8. Advices from Berlin show that the initial successes of the Bolshevist Communists were due to the treachery'of the troops who were guarding the public buildings. Dspite their previous oath of loyalty to, the Republic, tliev laid down their arms and sided with the Communists. The outbreak was largely due to Russian Bolshevists ordpring their accomplices, Eichorn and Liebknecht, to prevent at all costs the election of a Constituent Assembly.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

FIRST DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING GOVEBNMENTBELIEVED TO BE ' ; SECURE. (Reo. January 9, 7.30 p.m.) . Copenhagen, January 8. Details of tho fighting in Berlin on Tuesday are lacking. It is believed that the Government- was triumphant." The Spartacus attacks on the Chancellor's Palace were frustrated. Twenty of the , attackers and three of the defenders occupied the Wilhelmstrasse and the Wilthe police headquarters, the State printing offices, the railway offices, the railway administrative 'Othces, and also the arsenal and munition depots at Spandau. The Qovernment'B machine-gunners have occupied the Wilhelmstrasse and the Wilhelmplatz, and also positions opposite the newspaper offices, which the Spartaousians hold. During Monday's street fighting, when the machine-guns were firing and bombs wero falling from windows, the kinema operators energetically took pictures—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' BERLIN IN STATE OF SIEGE (Rec. January 9, 9.30 p.m.) Berlin, January 7. The Government to-day declared the oity to be in a state of siege. Negotiations with the Spartaousiaus wero without result. The latter have appealed t<) the workers to meet at the Siege Halle tr complete the proletariat victory. The Government, on the contrary, has ordered troops of nearly all the, garrisons £o come to Berlin in motor-cars.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INCESSANT FIGHTING IN BERLIN (Rec. January 9, 9.30 p.m.) London, January 8 (midnight). There is incessant fighting in Berlin. •The Spartacusians have gained the railways, preventing reinforcements from reaching the Government. The struggle is spreading to the provinces.—United Service. . | . • NAVAL OFFICERS ATTEMPT 'COUNTERCOUP

Copenhagen, January 8. ' A report from Cuxhaven states that officers of tho marines made a determined attempt on Saturday to overthrow the Soldiers' and Workmen's Council. The troops of the latter recaptured the' town, occupied the barracks, and arrested the leading citizens as hostages.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. . "'THREE MORE TOWNS SEIZED (Rec. January 10, 1110 a.m,) Paris, January 8. Advices from Bsrlin 6tate that at Dueseldorf, Muelheim, and Oberhausen the Spartacusiwis seized power and proclaimed sovereignty of the proletariat on the Russian model.—Renter.