THE RIOTING AT ESSEN

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 12

THE RIOTING AT ESSEN

EXTREMISTS ATTACK NEWSPAPER OFFICES. The leading article in tho ' RheinischWestfalische Zeitung,' denouncing Bolshevism in Germany, excited the anger of the extremists. On Tuesday (December 3) a crowd of Essen workmen made their way to the offices of the journal, which is published at Essen, and stormed the premises. An Essen telegram to the ' Kolnische Yolkszeitung,' describing tho affair, says that after a Spartacus group meeting the crowd, led by armed men of the Essen Workers' and Soldiers' Council's Defence Force, went to the journal's offices, burst tho doors, and entered the composing room and other mechanical departments, where the cases were thrown into disorder and a stoppage of work was enforced. Members of the Defence Force also entered the business and editorial offices, and the whole personnel was compelled to leave the building. The black, white, and red flag was hauled down, and the red flag substituted. The business offices of Wolff's Agency, in the same building, were also forcibly occupied, and the staff compelled to leave. In the Spartacus group meeting preceding this action a Russian Bolshevik, who had snoken at a former meeting at Essen, again demanded that Bolshevism should be brought to Germany. A subsequent Spartacus speaker demanded the confiscation of the ' Rheinisch-Westfalische Zeitung.' Although a motion to proceed immediately to storm the offices was rejected by a great majority, a large crowd carried it into effect. Wolff's representative was allowed to resume duty after making strong representations, and during the night the ' Rheinisch-Westfalische' was also permitted to start work again, though unable, owing to the damage done, to publish its morning edition. Later it made this editorial pronouncement: We welcome the Essen Workers' and Soldiers' Council's promise to combat violence and damage to property, but we repudiate the reproach of the hateful method of fighting which knows no limits. We have taken our stand on established facts, and, moreover, have done nothing beyond warning against conditions which must arise in Germany if we follow the same political development as Russia. That the journal's fears are not Tmiustified appears from a report in the Dortmund Socialist newspaper, .' Wcstfalischa Allgemeine Volkszeitung,' of a secret sitting of Dortmund .Spartacus partisans, where there was a discussion as to how the Independent Socialist party could bo destroyed and its party funds appropriated by the Spartacus group. To this end a Lieblmecht meeting was held at Dortmund. A messenger sent to Berlin reported to this meeting that Liebknecht had told him that he had the actual power at Berlin in his hands, that the soldiers stood united behind him, and in a few days people would experience things which would simply amaze them. A Bolshevist wave would extend within the next few days from Berlin to the Lower Rhine. In reporting this incident ' Vorwarts' declared that the soldiers showed no inclination to impose on the Berlin population la ruler that the latter would not have; J and that if a popular vote were to be ! taken in Berlin Liebknecht might ex- ! perience things that would amaze him. j That is w hat-actually happened.