Newspaper Page Text
Officer Freed Of Massacre of Berlin Rebels Marloh Who Ordered Killing of 30 Marines Shifted Blame to Ilis Superiors and Wins Acquittal 'Prussianism' Is Admitted Soldiers Assembled to Get Pay Were Arrested and Slain in Summary Manner By William C Dreher BERLIN, Dec. 12.?"The most frighb ful tragedy that ever occupied a Ger? man court," said the lawyer for the defense, and "a more terrible picture of the times could not be imagined," said the prosecuting attorney in open? ing their pleas in the Marloh case, which ended here this week. This "picture of the times" in revo? lutionary Germany is worthy of being looked at more closely than American readers were able to do from the brief outlines cabled by the agencies. It has already attracted attention in all coun? tries as displaying elements of the old German militarism of Zabern and war atrocities. That militarism in Germany is not yet under the control of reason and law was the first im? pression created abroad by this triai, and that impression has largely found expression here, too. # The Marloh case1 was not merely an outgrowth of the old military spirit; it was also a reflex product of the rev? olutionary turmoil that existed here last winter.. The revolution itself had passed off with a minimum of violence and bloodshed. But the wider revolu? tionary movement soon turned against the government and irregular soldiery led outbreaks for its overthrow. The first of these occurred at Christmas, the next in January, which almost suc? ceeded in upsetting the government; and then another began in the first week of March. "Murder of the Marl-tea" It was near the end of the last oat break that the "murder of the marines," for which Lieutenant Marloh was tried, occurred. A general strike was declared here on March 4, which soon developed into riotous demonstrations against the government. All the police headquar? ters in the large eastern section of the city, inhabited by a working class pop? ulation, were attacked and seized, pil? laged for weapons and then held by the Insurgents. On March 8 the so called "People's Marine Division" de? serted the government troops and went over to the rioters. A large part of the "Republican Soldatenwehr" (sol? diers' guards), of whioh the marines formed a part, did likewise. This marine division had been or? ganized soon after the revolution. The sailors who came here from Kiel early in November to spread the flamea of revolution formed its nucleus. Be? sides them a nondescript conglomera? tion of recruits was taken in, including many criminals. The streets of Ber? lin were then full of that evil element, owing to the general jail delivery which the revolutionists carried out as the first pledge of the "new freedom." Its record corresponds fully to its compo? sition. While there was a good ?la? ment in it, the lawless and criminal crowd apparently predominated. Even that good element, however, was only negatively good, for when a part of the division went over to the insur? gents the rest laid down their arms and went home. The division had no regular of__n_?. Along with the "Soldatenwehr* H was under five "coundlmen.*' One of these -was Max Mneller, hitherto a tailor, who appears to hare had a sort of com? manding position ever the marinee st | the tima of the "murder.*' Here is the moral diagnosis ef the marine division drawn at this trial by a men eexmeeted with their depot ef supplia*. "A l__rg? part of tue men wemd negotiate on.y With hand en pistol, threats ef vio? lence were common. Repeatedly they demanded, with .platel La hand, uni? forms and arms. ... In another ease the marines marched up to e sup? ply depot with machine guns, ever powered the guard, pilLaged the rooms, and every*_h;ng was 'sptrrles ver? schwunden.' The council of five paid no attention to the ?orders ef ths gevern ment or Noske." Noake Was Firm As seen as it was known that the ?Soldatenwchr" had mostly gone over to the insurgents the government ordered '< it dissolved. At the same time Noake issued a military order to the effect that any man taken with a weapon in his hand and fighting against the gov ernm.n. uoops must U. sii-ot without ceremony. Of course, the city was un? der rigid martial Law since the great insurrection of January. The general psychological atmosphere among the government troops, moreover, had been greatly inflamed by treacherous attacks upon them by the marines and other insurgents, and a number of their men had been killed. Besides this, just on the day before the "murder" came e very definite report?it turned out later to be ?"aise?that a score of policemen had been massacred in Lichtenberg, an eastern suburb. In the midst of these exciting condi? tions information came on March 10 to the intelligence department of the 1-__.wji_ Corps?Oenerai L?ltwitz was in command of the government forces in Berlin-that a meeting of the disbanded marines would take place the next morning at their headquarters I in French Street. As all meetings bad I been prohibited under martial law it was at once assumed that this meeting had been called for the purpose of re? organizing the division in the rear ef the government troops, which were then gradually pressing the insurgents into the ?astern suburb. Orders were ac? cordingly given to Colonel Reinhard, of the cavalry sharpshooters' division, to prevent the meeting end arrest all ma? rinee who appeared, end he charged Lieutenant Marloh with this task. Arrived Before Marlaae Whoa Marloh proceeded with fifty pen on the following morning to the ?ease in French Street it wee with the Eras ?env-ction that he was t? arrest a ?t of traitors and criminals wbe were ?boat to reorganize themsolvee for farther ifht?a? against the govern. - meat. Be had eeett told so by hie saperlers, and he .had his mea set ?bout thai? teak is a aig?Mpir?tor <w?y, detomined to ?erry it through at whetover cost. They took psesaseton ?* P* #?*?>??? s?fese any of the saatMes arrived; ?ad as the latter k straggled In, in groan?, they were astonished to have loaded rifles pre? sented before them and to hear the order to surrender. The marine? might well be surprised, since they came for the very innocent purpose of drawing their pay. Word had been passed around among them that they were to assemble on that morning to draw their back pay, due at the time of their disbandment. The ex-tailor. Max Mueller, had committed the tragical blunder of calling the men there without getting a license for the meeting, or even informing the mili? tary or police authorities that it had been called. He had even told them that It was advisable to bring their arm?, but very few actually brought firearms. And so Marloh and the marines con? fronted each other under a complete misunderstanding, but it was not a time for explanations, according to Marloh's military standpoint. He ar? rested the men as they came in, dis? arming those who carried firearms. The latter were only a small number. but about three-fourths of the arrested men, says Marloh, carried daggers, knives and other fighting-gear in their ?ockets. The arrests proceeded till by 1 o'clock they recahed 160. Then Marloh began to get nervous. His prisoner? now outnumbered his own troop already three to one, and the arrest? were proceeding steadily. He began to telephone to headquarters fox reinforcements, representing his posi? tion a? dangerous. He testified in the trial that about half of the marines ' offered violent resistance when arrest? ed. Moreover, the arrested marines showed a sullen mood, and he feared an attempt to overpower his troop, seize their arn\s and make an end of them. Prisoner? Were Separated Marloh, meanwhile, had taken meas? ures to avoid an attempt to overpower him. His orders from Colonel Rein hard had been only to arrest the ma? rines and take them to prison in Moa? bit, in the northwest part of the city. He began to prepare for this by se? lecting what seemed the most danger? ous men and separating them from the rest, placing them in a dark room. The selections were made in a very hap? hazard manner: the men were made to file past Marloh, .and he picked out, he says, "those that looked intelligent and likely to lead a muntlnv, and those that wore expensive uniforms." Als* those that wore watches or other jew? elry that laid them under the suspicion of having taken part in pillaging were selected. But this haphazard selection proved to be the telling off of men for execu? tion, as the tragical result showed. Marloh's nervous telephone call for help inspired nervousness at head? quarters, and Lieutenant Schroeter was sent by Reinhard to say that ha expected no wavering, no mild-hearted neBs?''he must proceed with energy." Later on Lieutenant Wehmeyer also came with more specific orders, which he had received from Lieutenant von Kessel, acting a* aide to Reinhard. This order, which was a verbal one, ran thus, according to the testimony of another witness at the trial: "Colonel Reinhard is angry with you; you must shoot as many as you can, even if it be 150 men. Colonel Reinhard does not know what to do with so many prisoners." Wholesale Shooting Ordered That was the fatal order that led to the shooting of thirty marines. But it emanated, not from Reinhard, but from von Kesselt. Marloh was a Prussian officer and felt bound to obey orders first and wait for explanations after? ward. He had eighty of the worst specimens in his darkroom; and he would confine his shootings to a part of these. Then, fortunately, Captain Centner same along and saw that this group Included many men who had formerly helped him to guard the Reichsbank; he knew them and knew that they were trustworthy. He picked them out?fifty of them?and said he would vouch for them. That left thirty of the ostensibly worst men. Marloh decided that he would re? strict his executions to these, ' and charged one of his non-coms, with the work, while he himself stayed in the building. The victims were not told what was about to happen. They were marcheB out into the courtyard and placed in a corner. Ten paees distant stood eight soldiers with rifles. These ; suddenly opened rapid fire upon the de '? fenseleBs victims and kept it up until all were on the ground. All were not dead. One man-; Lewin by name, had only been wounded In the arm, but he had fallen with the rest and discreetly played dead. In his evidence in the trial he told how he heard the .soldiers carrying out an examination of the hodies, how one of them would say, "This one Is not dead yet"?and then a pistol Bhot; and this proceeded until all were thought to be dead. Lewin later got up, to the surprise of every? body, and was able to get the protection of an officer, who saved him. Story Shocked Judge Such was this "murder ef the ma? rines." One of the most harrowing facts connected with it is that most of the men, as the presiding judge himself said, were evidently innocent. One witness, a merchant, told how his young son, who was only a fireman In tho building of the marine division and as such went there to draw his pay, was shot because he wore a silver bracelet, which waa a gift from his sweetheart. Another man was shot because he wore a gold watch, which his wife had given him. These ornaments were sufficient proofs, in the eyes of Marloh, that the men were plunderers. But the situation was for Marloh him? self also a tragedy. He was by no means of that type of Prussian officer which became so well known during the war for their reckless acts. He is the son of a simple schoolmaster and was brought up in Heidelberg. He entered the army in 1012, became a lieutenant in 1913 and was in the whole war. He was wounded twenty times and several of his wounds were severe, yet he al? ways volunteered again for front serv? ice. He finally lost his lower left arm in 1917 and was taken prisoner by the English, but five months later was ex? changed. He is now twenty-six years old. Old General von Oertzen, who has known Marloh from his childhood, gav? him an unusually high character. But Marloh is not a strong charac? ter, as he showed by his subsequent behavior. After having drawn up his official report of the shooting, in which ho duly referred to his orders, he al? lowed von Kessel to persuade him tc substitute another report, in which h< made no mention of his specific orders but referred only to Noske's genera order. Fled to Escape Trial Then as the agitation carried on li the Independent Socialist press agains Marloh grew more threatening he al lowed himself to be persuaded by voi Kessel and the Rev. Dr. Rump, "in thi interests of the country," to run awaj in order to escape arrest and trial ?? Mackenzie King Liberal leader in Canada Rump, whose sister married an uncle of Marloh and in whose house Marloh visited daily, finally assumed the r?le of "spiritual adviser" and almost com? pelled Marloh to go away. In all the miserable business von Kessel played a wretched part. It was owing to the sharpened and aggravated form in which he had passed Reinhard'b orders on to Marloh that the marines were shot. Von Kessel'also forged the papers on which Marloh traveled after running away and supplied him with money when he left Berlin. Of all the principal characters in this tragedy von Kessel certainly cut the sorriest figure. He has been arrested and will be brought to trial, but not, appar? ently, for murder. The court before which Marloh was tried consisted of seven men, all offi? cers or soldiers. Of course, they looked upon the case with the eyes of military men, judging of Marloh's acts as offi? cers accustomed to obey orders and leave it to their superior officers to bear the responsibility for the orders themselves. Yet the presiding officer himself said in giving judgment that Marloh was not justified, objectively, 1n Bhootlng the marines; for the re? sistance contemplated in general orders instituting martial law applied only to persons caught red-handed fighting against the government or in the act of pillaging. However, Marloh had orders which he believed to compel him to shoot down the marines; and the fact that he believed this?proved by a number of witnesses?exculpated him. The fact was also mentioned as a mitigation that Marloh had been badly wounded in the head, which ha3 made him nervous and of rather un? balanced judgment. The most charitable conclusion that can be reached about this whole affair is that all the principals in the case lost their heads and acted beyond what the facts demanded. Marloh far overrated the danger of his position; and his nervous calls for reinforce? ments inspired Colonel Reinhard with an anxiety that was not warranted. He issued energetic orders of a general character, which were then put into far more sp?cifie language by von Kessel. The while situation was Judged in an exaggerated way, under t..a influence of the insurrection that had prevailed for a week. And the tailor Mueller, with his bungling call for the payday gathering, unwittingly prepared the way for the tragedy. 1920 A GREAT OWEN MAGNETIC YEAR / The Car of a Thousand Soeeds Owen Magnetic Four Passenger Touring Open Models 7 P-assenger 4 Passenger 2 P?assenger Closed Models Coupe 4 Pass. Sedan 7 Pass. limousine 7 Pass. Introduced five yean ago ?as ?an advanced idea in automobile con? struction ?and successfully operated since then by thousands of enthusiastic owners, the Owen Magnetic is now entering the greatest year of its history. The finest engineering ?and manufacturing methods and adequate production are assured in 1920, ?the Owen Magnetic having acquired a great plant of its own in Wilkes-B?arre, Pa., where the International Fabricating Corporation is located, whose precision engineers, makers of ?the famous "Sunbeam" ?aeroplane engine, ?are concentrating ex? clusively on the production of the Owen Magnetic Space C2?3d Floor Grand Central Palace Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation NEW YORK E. S. Partridge & Co.. lue. Broadway at SOtb St. METROPOLITAN DISTRIBUTORS Canadian Liberals Plan to Reorganize To Meet Farmers The Party Seeks Additional Strength Also to Prepare for the Possible Early Election; King in Lead Special Correeponienee OTTAWA, Jan. 3.?The Liberals of Canada are taking active steps to bolster op their organization and to prepare for meeting both the growing strength of the farmers and the pos? sibility of an election before long. Mackenzie King, Liberal leader in the House and successor to the late Sir Wilfrid Laurier, will hold meetings throughout Canada starting next week, and will place before the people the main planks of the Liberal platform, aa agreed on at the Liberal convention here some weeks ago. Owing to the short time between the New Year and the opening of Parliament?probably In February?only the large cities will be visited at present. It is probable that Andrew Haydon, Ottawa, lately appointed Dominion Liberal secretary, will accompany Mr. King. A central information bureau is to be located here and other changes made to bolster up the party. A national organizer may also be appointed, and the Liberals may decide to resume "The Liberal Monthly," published here for some years. Mr. King ia familiar to New Yorkers because of his connection with the Rockefeller Foundation for some years. He Is a young man and is considered an authority in matters pertaining to labor legislation?having been Minister of Labor for ?ome years when the Laurier government was in power. He figured in a keen contest here in August, when some 1,200 Liberal? from all the province? met to select a suc? cessor to Sir Wilfrid Laurier. The final choice was between Mr. King and W. S. Fielding?known to Americans as the man who proposed reciprocity with the United States in 1911. During the war Fielding lined up with the Union government, taking the gi"ound that that administrate was right in its attitude on conscription during a time of war. Quebec was solidly against this, and, never having forgiven what they regarded a? Fielding's slight to their idol, Quebec voted almost solidly for King. The result 1? that he takes his seat as leader of the Liberal wing of the government at an important period, when farmers with growing strength threaten to enter the Federal area. For year? Quebec has voted Liberal solidly, and now out of their member? ship of sixty-five more than sixty are Liberals, but it is an indication of the times that even this week farmers are calling meetings at Hull, Quebec, across the river from Ottawa to organize, thus disposing of prophecies that they would not invade the Quebec province political field. . . aw Better Weather May Stem Flood in France Seine Continues to Rise, but Peak Is Thought Past; Relief Aid Needed PARIS, Jan. 8.?In spite of the fact that the Seine River continues to rise, there is generally a more hopeful atti? tude taken by the people of this city because of the fine weather which has set in. The' situation, however, in parts of the city already reached by the flood grew worse yesterday, espe? cially in the 18th and 16th wards where it was necessary hastily to remove household goods to upper floors. In the suburbs the situation is still more seri? ous, especially at Melun, the lower part of which is isolated by the flood. Public authorities nave been asked to organize relief treasures. Scores of villages in lowlands throughout the country are Buffering from floods, and people living near streams have been forced to vacate. Parts of Meaux, Mezi?rea and Chalons sur-Marne are flooded, while many miles of river bottom between Sedan and Charleville are under water. No loss of life is yet reported, but the property damage probably will be heavy Vatican Seeks Freedom For 200,000 Prisoners Japan and United States May Co-operate in Returning Men From Russia ROME, Jan. 8.?Two hundred thou? sand Austrian, Hungarian and Czech prisoners of war at present in Siberia may be taken back to their home coun? tries by way of Japan and the united States, according to plans being stud? ied at the Vatican, whioh has taken a deep interest in the condition of the men, The Japanese government may be asked to transport the prisoners from Vladivostok to Japan, where they would remain at the expense of Japan until the United States could send ships to transport them to America. Fr-m America the men would be taken to Europe on ships of various nations. Problems involved in taking the men out or Siberia are most difficult, of solution, according to reports, and ne? gotiations for their transportation there are being conducted through a committee of the International Red Cross. Held as Robbery Suspect NEW BRUNSWICK. N. J., Jan. 8.? Michael Mazork?-witit, of 16T East Ninety-ninth Street, New York, is un? der arrest here in connection with the postofflce robbery at Nixlon, N. J., December 16. Re was arrested after the postmaster at Milltown reported that Mazorkiwitz had sold him a small quantity o*f postage stamps. _-_?____--M- II I ?' - Committee Formed4'] Here to Aid Poles i*! I Fight With "Reds* I Governor Smith Is Honors^ Chairman of Body; Fna^ To Be Raised to Send R*? lief to the Heroic Troops* What the ragged Continentals ^ dured at Valley Forge is being endurej to-day by the barefooted, thinly clad I soldiers of Poland, fighting the Bol. sheviki in the snows of the Rue?!,-, frontier. Stirred by official reports of their hardships and the suffering 0f the civilian population behind their linea, prominent New Yorkers h?y, formed the American Committee ?ot Ai?^iii the Republic of Poland, with Governor Smith as honorary chaina?. to afford all possible measures of r*. ' lief without regard to race or religion Notice of the formation of tHs or ganizatlon was sent yesterday t? Prince Casimir Lubomirskv minlsUr of the newly liberated nation in Wats? ington. Members of the committee the notification says, are stanch friendj * of Poland, who "as individuals ??nil deem it a privilege to be of assistai?? in the work of reconstructing Poland?' Roosevelt on Committee Among the members named y**t*jL day are Lieutenant Colonel Theodor ! Roosevelt, General Avery D. Andrea?. Charlea E. Hughes jr., William Su Schieffelin, Eugene H. Outerbrid|& George W. Perkins jr., Theodore Dosa! las Robinson, Major Richard Patters*. Jr.. Walter S. Schutz, Hiram Barn?? Joan Henry Hammond, Henry aha! quand, Nelson S. Spencer and Coleas)' Charles Elliott Warren. William U Gendre la activa chairman, with Gta, eral Andrews aa vice-chairman: WlV Ham R. Wilder, treasurer: C: V. Hib bard, secretary, and William ?Searsav comptroller. Organization of the committee f?l. lowed receipt of an appeal for halt from Hugh Gibson, United States Mis* later in Poland. Mr. Gibson's letter, dated Warsaw. November 6, saya: "Suffering already is acute, and de? spite our efforts, the people and ?ray must endure such misery as our pn pie cannot understand or belter*. I am sure that if our people at hon could see the horrors of this wiutff they would find a way to give ye? aft. pie means for meeting thi? urgent ???4 tragic situation." Great Courage Shown "Polish soldiers are-showing a <**?> derful courage under condition? that rival those of Washington's army ti Valley Forge," writes Arthur S, Taj., lor, senior secretary of the Araerieai Y. M. C. A. in Poland. "I have **m aOldler? without even trousers. They merely have a blanket strapped aroma them to take the place of a unifom, "There Is a limit to human endur? ance," Mr. Taylor continues, "ani Americans must help in this critical hour." at the Show The motor truck has made every highway a possible freight and express route. Motor truck trans? portation is now an invaluable part of the national distribution system,, The great power and unusual de? pendability of Nash trucks has played and is playing an important part in this development In the service of many lines of busi? ness from coast to coast they are daily carrying their loads punc? tually and at a minimum cost VALUS CARS AY VOLUMS Mint Nash passenger ear?, including the new Nash Foto*, are an exhibition at the Automobile Show. Space A3. Nash trucks are being exhibited at the Truck Show, Eighth ArtiU buy Corps Armory, i 93rd Street erne Jerome Avenue One-Ton Chassis, $16S0| Two-Ton Chassis, $2280} Nash Qua?! Chassis, $3250 _Yt_wte.tfck-_?o#__e 1 ? Warren-Naah Motor Corporation J General ?Ofllees awl Service Statiem Retail OtBce and Showrooas. } I8-30 Watt 63rd St Broadway. Near 64th St TBU3PHONB COLUMBUS 6370 ? Br-rafftya? t. A. 0. Molars Corp., 1401 Bedford Ave. Newark. Newtoa-Humphrevin. Ce*. MO Broad ? \ ./)...,.. -i_ ??***