GERMANY

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 22

GERMANY

- =*=- - j COMMUNISTS AND POLICE. HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. LONDON, .nay 24. The Daily Express’s Dustseldcrf correspondent reports that two persons were killed and 30 wounded at Gelsenkirchen during a light between armed Communists and the police. There has been lighting also at Dortmund since Saturday. The police had two killed and several wounded and the Communists 10 killed and 60 wounded. The driver of a tire engine who went to the assistance of the police, was shot. The rioters are still parading the streets. Many ruffians from other parts of Germany have been attracted to Dortmund and Essen by the unemployment dole. The black flag of the syndicalists as well as the red flag is plentifully dis played. THE CITIZENS TERRIFIED. BERLIN, May 24. Gelsenkirchen is still in the hands of the Communist commandos. The citizens are terrified, as there is no force to combat the Communists, who wrecked the police headquarters. The onslaught was carefully planned and carried out on military plans. LONDON, May 25. The Daily Express correspondent reports that the Gelsenkirchen casualties are five killed and 60 wounded. The fight began with an hysterical outbreak bv women in the market place, where they protested against the 20 per cent, increase in food prices. The scenes which followed were like those of the French Revolution, especially the part played by the women. The Communists poured in, armed with sticks and revolvers. The Citizens’ Defence Force tried to block the streets with the aid of the fire brigade, but were hopelessly outnumbered and forced to retire to the houses, leaving the crowd to perpetrate excesses, including thefts and the destruction of property. The greatest damage done was at the police station, where the rooms were burnt out and documents destroyed. The Red Flag is now flying from the roof. Following upon the riots instigated by the Communists against food prices the town of Gelsenkirchen is now under Communist rule, working through four trade unions. At a meeting of the unions the first step was to form a. new police force in which the unions were represented. A committee of action has been constituted consisting of one representative of each union in the town. The “Big tour” then seized the principal control, and issued an order forbidding demonstrations and the looting of shops. Thev decreed the prohibition of even light beer and wines. The burgomaster is powerless to prevent the innovations. Already some food prices have been fixed, and the popula tion henceforth will be rationed to prevent hoarding. The Communist leader says that Gelsenkirchen will be run on Communist lines, and this is only the first step. He pointed out with satisfaction that the Government president of the district had consented to the burgomaster agreeing to the terms, and also that the new police will be paid by the State, not by their own municipal authorities. The municipal authorities ai, allowed to carry out their duties, but all power rests with the big four. FATAL RIOTING. PARIS, May 26. Fifteen thousand people demonstrated at Bochum demanding a. 100 per cent, increase in wages. They invaded the market place, where they chased off the butter merchants, who refused to lower their prices. Firemen turned hoses on the crowd. . BERLIN, May 26. The casualties at Bochum were two killed and 33 wounded. Nine strikers and police came into collision at Hoerde a.nd at Dortmund. One was killed and many injured. COMMUNIST LEADERS THRU A. EYING. PARIS, May 25. French observers issue a warning that if the deadlock lasts much longer there will be grave disorders. The Quai d'Orsay has admitted that the fall of the mark has increased the price of foodstuffs, causing restiveness. The Ruhr inhabitants are finding it hard to live. The Times Berlin correspondent states that the Ruhr rioting is regarded as’ a warning finger as to the state of internal conditions in Germany generally. There were food riots in the working class sub urfcs of Berlin to-day. The police have been largely reinforced. The Communist leaders threaten to take a hand if the situation develops. OUTBREAK AT ESSEN. LONDON, May 25. Advices from Paris state that a Dusseldorf message reports that the Communist outbreak has spread to Essen, where crowds pillaged the shops. THE TORCH AND THE POWDER. LONDON, May 25. The recent disorders in the Ruhr are causing alarm both in Paris and in Berlin. It is feared that there is imminent ! danger of the trouble swiftly spreading. Though Gelsenkirchen is momentarily quiet the spirit of plunder and destruction lias been let loose. The strike at Dortmund is spreading, while the sporadic outbreaks in other towns are more fre quent, showing that the torch is steadily creeping nearer the powder. INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISTS. LONDON, May 23. A Hamburg telegram says that the International Socialist Congress passed a

resolution condemning the Versailles Treaty and the League of Nations in their present form. Mr A. Henderson, M.P., strongly protested against the British ultimatum to Russia, declaring that international differences should be settled by ai bitration. May 25. The International Socialist Congress at Hamburg has decided to make London the scat of the new International. Tiie French Socialist leader, M. Blum, denounced the Treaty of Versailles and the Ruhr occupation.” He expressed the opinion that it was impossible to attain either security or payments by the dismemberment of Germany. Ai. Vanderveide (Belgium) spoke in a similar strain.