Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 304, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1918 — GERMANS FIRE ON U. S. FLAG [ARTICLE]

GERMANS FIRE ON U. S. FLAG

AMERICAN BANNER WAS THE . CAUSE OF STREET FIGHT- • . ING IN POSEN. ■ . ' London, Dec. 2'9.—Firing by German officers on an allied automobile carrying an American flag was the cause vt street fighting in Posen last Friday, says a dispatch to the Exchange Telegraph from Copenhagen, the Germans were defeated in the fighting. About 138 persons, including a number ,of women and children, were killed during the rioting. . The dispatch says: “There was severe fighting between the Poles and Germans n Posen Friday, which resulted in 38 women and children and about 100 Germans and Polanders being killed. The affray originated as a result of a German officer firing on an allied automobile which was proceeding to Warsaw, carrying the American. flag. “The - Germans , insulted .the flag and the Polish guard was called out. The fighting lasted several hours and the Germans were defeated. “A delegation, from the British mission to Posen protested to the German commander in the town, General iSchimmelfeng, but the German officer declared that he had no control oyer the soldiers.” Warsaw, Dec. 28.—A Polish official report concerning the rioting in Posen on the arrival of Ignace Jan Paderewski, who is on his way here, says the trouble started when allied and American flags were hoisted over thecity hall. The Germans demanded that the flags 'be hauled down. The Poles refused, to acquiesce, whereupon the Germans brought up machine guns and began firing in the streets, driving back the crowds and dispersing the Polish troops.