WITH THE ENEMY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16117, 23 January 1918, Page 7

WITH THE ENEMY.

UNREST IN AUSTRIA. INSISTENT DEMAND FOR PEACIi (By Cable. —Press . Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) BEIiNE, January 21. The Vienna correspondent of the Munich "Nachrichten" states that the Austrian strikers demand:— (1) That tlio Brest Litovsk negotiations should lead to an immediate general democratic peace; ' (2) Immediate improvement in food conditions ; (3, The introduction of democratic reforms; and (4 ) The abolition of military control of industries. The strikes reached their height in Vienna at midday on Thursdav, when 300,000 workers were idle. The police stopped processions, resulting in rioting, which necessitated the closing or shops. The "Neue Freie Presse" states that Austria is the only belligerent country where all classes desire peace, and. protests against German designs in Poland. | (In another column we print an article from our oorrcspondent in Switzerland, Mrs Julian Grande, describing the food crisis in the Dual Monarchy and the bitter feeling between Austria and Hungary.) OVER 1,000,000 STRIKERS. BERNE, January 21. It is estimated that there are nof 1,200,000 strikers in Austria. HOW THE TROUBLE ORIGINATED. LONDON, January 21. The "Daily Telegraph's" Milan correspondent says that the general strike :n Austria-Hungary originated in a reduction of the bread ration. The "Arbeiter Zeitung" denounced the reduction, and declared that the privileged classes were tolerably orovided for, whereas the millions we/e » unable to get bread; and the authorities did not care. The paper urged the workers ef Vienna to demonstrate. The responso exceeded expectations. Many railway and State workers struck, and the populace joined in. The streets cf central Vienna were packed with crowds demanding bread. The Town Council hastily met And I sent a message to the Government, Erotesting against the reduction of Itie read ration. The strike extended to the munitions works at Neustadt, which were entirely closed. There have been violent encounters between the police and the strikers. The authorities feared to employ the military. There were also many encounters at Cracow (Poland), where the Archbishop headed a procession to the Governor's palace. The latest news from Vienna reports that demonstrations were continued during the week-end. There wero huge processions of strikers, munition woi'kers, women, and children. The agitation then became of a political character in favour of peace. A Socialist deputation approached the Governor, and received an assurance that peaco negotiations were being expedited. AOUTE HOSTILITY TO GERMANY. PARIS, January 21. Swiss telegrams from Austria shoif that the disorders are most serious. A marked feature of the demonstrations is hostility to Germany. Demonstrators in Vienna and Grata repeatedly cried, "Down with Prussian militarism!" and "Long live the Russian revolution and universal peace'" Precautions have been adopted in Vienna to keep the demonstrators away from the vicinity of the Germar Embassy. ALL MUNITION WORKS CLOSED* i ROME, January 21. Vienna Messages state tnat the I Council of Ministers recognises that it I is impossible to solve the nation's food problem without lowering the army's I efficiency. ' < All military factories and workshops in Austria-Hungary have closed owinj; to the strike. _ One report states that tho Papal Nuncio describes all Austria-Hungary to be afire with open opposition to Germany. President Wilson's message is understood to have created widespread

demands for a democratic peace, which are spreading. Industrial chaos is also a strong ractor. The Jvaiser is desperately striving to avert a crisis. . MOVEMENT SPREADS TO _ HUNGARY. BERNE, January 21. A general strike began at Budapest «n Friday. THE MINISTRY RESIGNS. ("The Time-.") (Received January 22nd, 8 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 21. The Austrian strikes arc spreading, and pcace is everywhere demanded. The Ministry has resigned. AFFAIRS IN GERMANY. ANOTHER PAN-GERMAN VICTORY. fAnetrn'.iin and X.Z. Ceble Association.) (Received January 22nd, 8 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 21. The retirement of Herr Rudolph von Valontini, chief of the Kaiser's civil Cabinet, is regarded as a victory for : Jto pan-Germans. The "Tacglischo Rundschau" declares that Herr Valontini was an opponent of Germany's submarinings and was the real author of the Kaiser's Easter suffrage manifesto. Herr Valentini's successor will be Herr Gustav von Berg, a typical officer of tho Prussian Guard and a prominent pan-uerman. He becomes the Kaiser's closest personal adviser.