Cologne, May 5. It is still being rumoured that on Sunday, on the 
occasion of the district congresses of the various parties,*"* a state of 
siege will once again be imposed on the good city of Cologne. 

From all kinds of small preparations by the military authorities, it 
is clear that at any rate they are preparing themselves for all 
eventualities. That is not all. Measures are being taken which 
definitely indicate a desire to provoke disturbances. 

Why otherwise has “My glorious army”*!* been suddenly permitted, to the great astonishment of the soldiers themselves, to remain 
out of barracks until 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m.? 

There is likewise again talk of arrests. We are quite ready to believe | 
in it. The desire for such action has been in existence for a long time. 
Moreover, it is known that already on one occasion by means of such 
arrests the plan of provoking disorders proved completely successful. 

We repeat, it is of the utmost importance that the democrats, and 
especially the workers, of Cologne do everything possible so that 
tomorrow the powers that are eager for a state of siege will not be 
given even the slightest excuse that will serve them as a cover for their 
acts of violence. 

It is primarily the bourgeoisie that is endangered by the latest 
counter-revolutionary actions. The bourgeoisie has convened the 
congress of the towns. Let the bourgeoisie have the honour of saying the 
first word. Let us wait to see what these gentlemen will decide on 
Tuesday. We are convinced that many a worthy democrat will be 
greatly disappointed by the results of this pompous “congress of the 
towns”’.* 

One thing is certain: if the state of siege is proclaimed before 
Tuesday then the congress of the towns will not take place and no 
one will be more pleased at this than precisely the gentlemen who 
convened it. 

If tomorrow the workers allow themselves to be provoked into 
disorders they will only be pulling the chestnuts out of the fire for the 
bourgeoisie, and at the same time for the Government. The question is 
whether they wish to be used for this purpose at a time when all 
Germany is on the threshold of civil war, and when perhaps they will 
soon have the opportunity to come forward with their own demands.