TANK FIGHTING IN BERLIN

Gisborne Times, Volume L, Issue 5072, 15 January 1919, Page 5

TANK FIGHTING IN BERLIN

ARMOURED CARS AND GRENADES AT WORK.

STREET CASUALTIES ESTI-

MATED AT 1000,

SPARTAOUSER LEADERS • CAPTURED. . : '

Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. LONDON, Jari. 12. ~ Tlie Daily Express’ Berlin correspondent, telegraphing on Friday, reported : A fierce" attack at dawn with hand grenades against, the Reichstag building failed. The recent, lighting has been more severe than at Petrograd. The casualties' are estimated at a thousand.

The heaviest fighting occurred during the recapture of the Tageblatt office. Mosse, the proprietor, refused permission to use artillery against the building; therefore the Government troops attacked with machine guns, to which the Spartacusers replied. The: troops, therefore, brought up a tank, and smashed in the doors, hut the building was only captured after a strenuous fight, in which an armored car and a storming grenade party participated. There were over three hundred Spartacus defenders, and they were mostly-killed or wounded. BERLIN. Jan. 13. Rosa Luxemburg and Liebknecht’s son liave been captured. The Spartacusers inaugurated a general sabotage to destroy telephones and all other means of communication. throughout Germany, thus stopping the convocation of the National Assembly. Radck, a Spartafcuser leader, was arrested when the police headquarters were stormed. Colonel Eichorn, President of the Police, escaped. .The Government were masters of tlie situation on Friday, holding the police headquarters, also from 1 the Brandenburg gate to the Friedrickstrasse. There was spasmodic fighting in other , parts of the city. Radck is the real leader. Dr. Liebknecht was his principal adviser. They are endeavoring to create a famine, under which Bolshevism flourishes in Russia. Fifteen hundred Russians- have rived, forming a guard for Dr. Liebknecht. Reuter’s Telegrams. • (Received Jan. 15, 1.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. The Sunday Express Berlin correspondent states that there was heavy fighting on Friday, when the Government re-took the offices of the Berliner Tageblatt. Machine guns were freely used by both sides. The Government eventually employed" a tank which battered down the main doors, and a storming party captured- the building. The Government also recaptured the State Printing Works. The Spartacusers control Spandau, where there ■ are many munition works. ‘ •

THE FATE of LIEBKNECHT.

CONFLICTING RUMORS,

SPARTACUSERS WANT FRESH ELECTIONS.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

(Received Jan. 14, 7.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. Jan. 11. Several hundred Spartacusers were killed when the Government captured the Silesian railway station. There are conflicting accounts about Dr. Liebkneelit. Some say he has been shot dead;' others that he escaped. The Spartacusers reproach the Independent Socialists with weakness in requesting negotiations. The Spartacusers demand fresh elections for the Central Council excluding the Majority Socialists, and fresh Soviet elections before abandoning their programme of violence. Thousands of disguised Russians are reported to be fighting on behalf of the Spartacusers. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 12. Herr Ebert, addressing the newly arrived troops at Berlin, said that their task would be to preserve order for the Assembly elections. Herr Noske, Minister of Military Affairs, said that he would take energetic action if-disturbances were attempted. A German wireless confirms the arrest of Ledebour. There is no news of Dr. Liebkneelit. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Jan. 14, 5.5 p.m.) COPENHAGEN. Jan. 11. -Latest Berlin reports state that fighting is still proceeding in several quarters. The Extremists hold the Breslau Station, the Police Headuarters, and the Tageblatt buildings. Since Dr. liebkneelit disappeared, Colonel Eichorn has become the real leader. The Government losses are one hundred 1 and eighty killed, while the Spartacuisers have lost hundreds. It is reported that the workmen at several factories are tired of street fighting and have decided to resume work. A general feeling is growing against Herr Ebert and Herr Scheidemann, many operatives demanding that the Government should retire or should reorganise. ■ It is reported that von Hiiidenburg is now in Berlin.

BOLSHEVIKISM SPREADING IN HUNLAND.

DUSSELDORFF REPORTED CAPTURED BY SPARTACUSERS.

TOWN OCCUPIED BY BRITISH

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. COPENHAGEN, Jan. 12. Spartacus outbreaks have occurred at Hamburg, Dresden, 'Stuttgart, Dortmund, and Aigsbury. ■lt is reported that the Spartacusers have captured Dusseldorf. It is reported that the British troops have occupied Dusseldorf owing to Bolshevism. • %ie Spartacus riots at Munich, were not attended with bloodshed. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

(Received Jan. 14, 7.20 p.m.) COPENHAGEN. Jan. 13. The French» Government lias requested Danish banks to cease payments to Germany. The Stock Exchange immediately,, stopped relations “with German clients. Thirty-two private Norwegian banks formed a limited company for the purpose of creating overseas banks.

GRAVE DANGER OF EUROPE.

ALLIES MUST CRUSH THE BOLSHEVIKS.

SUPPLIES OF FOOD A VITAL FACTOR.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association PARIS, Jan. 12.

M. Roulers, French Ambassador to Russia, denounced the proposal that the Allies 1 should have any • dealings with • Bolshevism in Russia, or Germany. The Allies must bring about the downfall of Bolshevism.; otherwise Europe would be exposed to the gravest dangers. T , M. Gustave Hervo says: It 1S staggering to think that Mr.. LloydGeorge or the British Government .could for one instant have had the idea of treating with the LeninTrotsky gang. Britain would bo making the gravest mistake. (Received Jan. 14, 8.20 P- m -) • WASHINGTON. Jan. 13. President Wilson, in urging Congress to appropriate twenty million sterling for European food relief, stated that Bolshevism is steadily advancing westward. It could not he stopped by force but could with ' (Received Jan, 15. 12.10 a.m.) WASHINGTON. J an. 13. The Lower House passed a hundred million dollars appropriation lor tlie relief of the European" food shortage.