GERMAN DISSENSIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 October 1928, Page 5

GERMAN DISSENSIONS

‘REPUBLICANS V. COMMUNISTS

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable —Press Assn.—Copyright.)

LONDON, October 2.

The Berlin correspondent of the “Times” states: Week-end warfare between semi-military and political organisations culminated in a battle between the Reichsbanner Republicans land a Red fighting force of Communists at Geesthacht, near Hamburg. One man was killed, eleven were seriously wounded, and many were slightly wounded. The recent closing of a power mill idled 6000 workers, causing recriminations on the Town Council, which resigned, thus necessitating elections. A large force of Communists, including 'Red Marines, mostly wharf lumpers, arrived and took up a position on the 'hills facing the Reichbanner, dispatched to secure an orderly election. A ’battle soon broke out, and it was waged with knives, revolvers, bottles and stones. Each side had its own ambulance attending to the wounded. Before the police restored order, . the leader of the Red Marines was killed. The election was abandoned. There was a subsequent clash in Berlin between Communists and Fascists, in the presence of temporarily insufficient police. It resulted in seventyfour arrests when the position was rectified.