Prohibit Assembling to Prevent Mob Action Against Jews in Upper Silesia

Anti-Jewish excesses in Beuthen and neighboring towns of Upper Silesia have become so frequent and reached such a point that Police President Beck has issued an order prohibiting assemblages of more than five persons, in any of these towns in order to ward off the danger of programs.

The excesses first made their appearance following the plebiscite in Upper Silesia when sccalled self-defense organizations were established whose real work has been the spread of anti-Semitism disguised as nationalism.

Jewish shops have been plundered in Hindenburg, Beuthen, Gleiwitz and neighboring towns. Last May a grenade was thrown in the midst of memorial exercises held for Jewish soldiers and during the entire summer groups of ten and twenty youths systematically attacked individual Jews on the streets with rubber cudgels. Many Jewish victims of these hooligans were taken to the hospital, suffering from concussion of the brain. Placards were posted about the town advising Jews to go to Palestine. Jewish factories were entered by the mobs and plundered. The factories have been the scene of programs twice in the recent past, once on September 22nd and the second time on October 5th. But the pogroming in a somewhat milder way goes on regularly. As a result the Jewish population has given notice that it will not participate in the general social life until Jewish life is made secure.

The Jewish representatives in accordance with this decision withdrew their representation from the German distress committee of Beuthen which occupies itself with the work of relieving the condition of the unemployed. The absence of the Jews from this committee has been seriously felt and the chairman, Doctor Casperkowitz has issued a proclamation condemning the anti-Jewish excesses, pointing out that it is depriving the city of the section.