EXCITING SCENES IN BERLIN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11653, 18 October 1923, Page 5

EXCITING SCENES IN BERLIN

CROWDS ASSEMBLE TO DEMAND MONEY AND BREAD. RELIEF PROMISED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Reuter's TeleeT»vm (Received October 17, 10.10 p.m.) BERLIN, October 16. The situation in the centre of the capital at noon was menacing. Excited crowds of thousands, including women packed the streets surrounding the Town Hall, plundered two bakeries, and held up motor-cars and threatened to throw them into the Spree. They refused to disperse, and the police used bayonets and swords, and fired revolvers. Fnally a deputation waited on tb© Burgomaster and demanded immediate relief of 10 milliard marks and two loaves apiece, also coal and meals. The deputation left upon the Burgomaster promising favourable consideration. STEALING BREAD ORGANISED BANDS IN BERLIN. Reuter’s Telegram. BERLIN, October 16. A hundred Communist leaders have been arrested at Hildesheim, in the Alfeld province of Hanover, for attempting to hold workmen’s councils. A sudden jump in the price of the loaf from di millions to 480 million marks infuriated Berliners. The police dispersed crowds of bread demonstrators in various centres without difficulty, but so far have been unable to deal with the organised bands of young men and women who d4sh into shops, seize bread, and disappear before the arrival of the police.

The police in Leipzig used batons on the crowds after a number of shops had been looted.