AUSTRIA SURRENDERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16361, 5 November 1918, Page 7

AUSTRIA SURRENDERS.

♦ ARMISTICE SIGNED.

HARD FIGHTING ON WESTERN FRONT.

PESSIMISM IN GERMANY. FIFTH YEAR—97th DAY,

SURRENDER OF AUSTRIA.

ARMISTICE SIGNED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright^ WELLINGTON, November 4. The Governor-General has received an urgent message from Mr Lloyd George stating that an armistice has been signed with Austria, and takes effect at 3 p.m. to-day. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 3. "The Times'* states that an armistice was signed on Sunday afternoon. Fighting ceases to-day. MR LLOYD GEORGE TELEPHONES THE NEWS. LONDON, November 3. The Press Bureau states: —Mr Lloyd George telephoned Downing street from Paris that newq had arrived that Aus-tria-Hungary, the last of Germany's props had gone but of the war, and that General Diaz had signed the armistico on Sunday afternoon. It comes into operation at three o'clock on Monday. FOOD SHORTAGE IN" VIENNA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) BERNE, November 3. Vienna announces that the grain reserves are exhausted, and that the city supply of flour will last only threo days. THE ASSASSINATION OF COUNT TISZA. (Australian and N.£. Cable Association.) COPENHAGEN, November 3. "The National Tidende's'' Berlin correspondent states that three soldiers gained admission to Count Tisza'g house oil Thursday, and entered the room where Count Tisza was with his wife and the Countess Almassy. Count Tisza drew a revolver. The ladies refused to leave the room. A soldier, addressing Count Tisza, said: "It is your fault that millions have perished. You brought about the war." Count Tisza denied that the responsibility rested on him. The ladies again refused the soldiers' request to depart, and the three fired their rifles at Count Tisza, crying: "The hour of reckoning has arrived." Count Tisza fell at the women's feet, and died almost immediately. One bullet slightly wounded Countess Almassy after passing through Count Tisza. The soldiers escaped. SOLDIERS' SOVIETS. EMPEROR RETURNS TO VIENNA. (Australian and N. 6. Cfcblfc Association.) I NEW YORK, November 3. I The New York "World's borres- j pondent telegraphs from Copenhagen: —The Austrian Army haa established soldier soviets.. The new Government j has given the soldiers every privilege j without delay, thus hoping to maintain i some semblance of oruer until the demobilisation of the army is possible. ! The authorities permitted the formation of soldier councils. Newspapers urge the State Council to act quickly to prevent excesses. The Emperor lias returned to Vionna, but the new Government announced its policy and ignored him. Vienna is talking of the possibility of Entente troops entering the city, but the inhabitants fear more the arrival of the Green Guards, who are deserters from the army. They are now 150 miles south-west of Vienna. They fiave pillaged and burned several cities. EVACUATION OF ODESSA. THE SKODA WORKS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) BERNE, November 3. The Austrians have begun to evacuate Odessa. The Czech National Committee has taken possession of the Skoda Works, md has dismissed all German employees. THE SINKING OF THE VIRIBUS UN IT AS. (Renter's Telegrotni.) (Recoived Novemhfer 4th, 9.15 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 3. Vienna advices state that two Italian laval officers entered the Poia roaditead during the night and blew up the Austrian Dreadnought Viribus Unites, klost of the crew were saved. Rome advices say that Engineerjoinalander Rosette and Surgeon-Lieu-enant Parolegi were responsible for he destruction of the Viribus Unitas. t is believed that both were taken irisoner. A REPUBLIC REFERENDUM IN | HUNGARY. j (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) November 3. Public opinion compelled members of ho Karolyi Cabinet to request the Ling to absolve them from the oath of delity. The King acceded. The Jabinct decided to hold a referendum s to whether Hungary should become i republic or a monarchy. The Minister of War in the National 1 ouncil announced that the Hungarian j overnment lias instructed the Supreme ; rilitary Command to see that Hunga- < an soldiers lay down their arms. If j le enemy decidcs to occupy Hungary ndor tho armistice the Government , ill request tho occupation troops to j 2 French or British. -1 VRREST OF A FIELD-MARSHAL. 1 STREET FIGHTING! J (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) j (Received November 4th, 8.5 p.m.) 1 COPENHAGEN, November 3. < Budapest papers report that the Na- j onal Council has arrested Field-Mar-ial Sirainka. ] £

| The city is quiet except for minor 1 j street fights. A German-Austrian- regiment in Prague applied to be allowed to return to Vienna, but the Czechs ordered the soldiers to lay down their arms andi stripped the officers of their decorations. The district of Vorarlberg has petij tioned for union with Switzerland. . ! THE AUSTRIAN FLEET. J (Australian and N. 55. Cable Association.) (Received November 4tli, 8.5 p.m.) PARIS, November 3. Austria did not abandon the fleet, but • the Jugo-Slavs, after the revolt, seized tho vessels, and wirelessed to President j Wilson that they were ready to hand the ships to America or the Allied Governments. 1 AN EFFORT TO AVERT 1 CALAMITY. 3 (Eeuter's Telegrams.) I AMSTERDAM, November 3. Router's correspondent states that 5 the Vienna National Council issued a manifesto to the army, urging the soldiers to maintain order, and declaring that an immediate peace will be concluded. ORDER RESTORED IN BUDAPEST. > (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ZURICH, November 3. A Budapest message states that order has been restored. It is reported that Count Karolyi advised the people to return to work. Parliament meets during the coming week, when universal suffrage for men ' and women will be introduced. 1 Count Wekerle has been arrested by * the National Council. ! LOCAL CELEBRATIONS. Demonstrative enthusiasm in the city [ over the receipt of the good news of the Austrian armistice was not perhaps so apparent as would have been anticipated a year ago, but this was partly accounted for by the fact that by the time the news was generally known; many business establishments had al- ' ready released their employees on ac- ■ oount of the races, and the town was ' not bo full as it might otherwise have boen. From noon onwards whistles and other instruments were sounded, and) during the afternoon the Cathedral bells broke forth into gladsome peals. The local branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association closed at 3 p.m., and a number of employees on motor lorries were driven through the main thoroughfares, cheering and waving lußtilv, and inviting others to join them. Indeed, they raised a good deal of enthusiasm. The employees of the Addington Railway Workshops demonstrated their joy at receipt of the news, I and were thereafter dismissed for the I remainder of the day. The Education Board, unfortunately, received the news rather late, but got into touch with I some of the main schools, where a half- .' holiday was declared. Government establishments wei-e closed, and the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) ordered a half-holiday for all employees of the City Council. Provisional upon the hews of an armistice with Germany being announced, he has arranged that one of the Christchurch Fire Brigade's engines shall, with siren sounding and flags flying, dash through the streets, and that an announcement of the news shall bo made near the Telegraph Office in Cathedral square. At 12.30 p.m. yesterday the Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr W. T. Lestor) read a telegram to a meeting of citizens at ciZ ° 3t i office corner, containing news <t)f the Austrian armistice. Suitable addresses were given by Messrs Lester, Wr ™ Bruce > C. Ferrier, and the Rev. W. T. Todd. The school children were given a holiday, and work ceased on the waterfront, in ordei to allow the public to celebrato the occasion. The rejoicing was continued till late in the evening. A procession, including the Marine and Salvation Army Bands, members of the local Fire Brigade, and the Senior Cadets, took placo at night, a feature being a squad of American sailors carrying a huge American banner. The bands played spirited patriotic selections, and collections were taken up for the Red Cross Fund. The meeting of 'the Sumner Borough Council last night was probably the shortest on record. After the minutes had been confirmed, the Mayor (the Hon. J. Barr) said he felt that the important news received that day regarding the surrender of Austria had cieated circumstances of such a joyous nature that it was impossible to give any attention to such comparatively small domestic affairs as* those of the formal business of the borough. In face of the momentous happenings in the Empire, anything they might do or say in open council would fall into insigni- 1 ficance. Apart from that he felt, as thousands of others in the Empire and Dominion would feel, that the great happenings of that day meant the return of our boys, and" tho saving of fathers, husbands, and boys ready to go. In view of such circumstances, he was sure that all would agree that the most fitting thing to do would be to record on tho minutes their thanks to tho Almighty for the successes vouchsafed to the Allied forces on sea and ] land, and declare the meeting adjourn- , ed. He therefore moved a reso.ution in that direction. He could say noth- ' ing more, except that the next great ' news would presage the overthrow of 1 Germany and the return of peace. The ; resolution was heartily seconded by , Cr. C. Benjamin, who said that, after j over four years of dreary waiting, peace was coming faster than they expected. He would nevei forgot peace celebrations at Bath, England, at thq conclusion of the Crimean War. and he hoped i to live to see the peace at the conclusion of this, the greatest of all wars. The motion was carried unanimously, the councillors standing and singing the ( National Anthem. This morning the local Sumner schools will march in procession through tho borough, and will be addressed by the Mayor from tho , balcony of the Council Chambers. Tho receipt of the .news of Austria's surrender was quietly received dt Kai-

apoi. There was no public celebration, but a half holiday -vvas observed. The news of the surrender of Austria was received with great onthusiasm in Rangiora yesterday. A half-holiday was proclaimed, and tho bells in the town rang out joyous appeals. At 2.30 p.m. the local bra® band paraded, and marched to the Borough Council offices, where a very large ergwd had assembled. The Mayor (Mr C. I. Jenniugs), after reading the telegram from the Prime Minister convoying the joyful news, oave a short patriotic address, after which he called for throe cheers each for the King, Queen, soldiers, soldiers' wives, the Navy, and returned soldiers. The proceedings closed, with til© National Anthem. When the news of Austria's surrender arrived at Waiau at midday yesterday, all the bells in the township were rung merrily. The Rev. J. H. Thomson briefly addressed the school children, who "thon sang tho National Anthem, and were dismissed for the remainder of the day. The stores also closed, and the afternoon was observed as a general half-holiday. A public meeting held at Waimato yesterday afternoon, decided to ask the Mayor to proclaim a whole holiday today, in addition to yesterday* afternoon's holiday, to celebrate peace with Austria A torchlight procession was lield last evening, rnd a grand procession will be held to-day, followed by a solemn thanksgiving in Seddon square. ! Word was received at Balcairn at : noon vesterday of Austria's surrender, and tne greatest excitement prevailed. The school children loudly cheered on hearing the news, and were given a 1 holiday, flags were flown, and bells were rung continuously during the afternoon. A party of residents with a team collected a great stack of inflammable material, to form a bonfire, which was lighted last night. Tho news with reference to the surrender of Austria was received in Ashburton at noon yesterday. Whistles were immediately sounded, bells rung, and flags hoisted. All the schools were closed, and a general half-holiday was observed. In view of the big gathering j which had taken place on Friday on tho surrender of Turkey, it was not thought necessary to hold any public function, but the general rejoicing was of the heartiest, and most genuine description. The Bth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band paraded in the evening and played a number of musical selections. At the meeting of tho Borough Council, held last evening, the following resolution was carried, and the National Anthem sung: "That this Council expresses its high appreciation of the wonderful work which has been done by the Allied forces on land and sea, and expresses its thankfulness to Almighty God for the wonderful success which has been achieved." DOMINION REJOICINGS. Press Association telegrams state that the capitulation of Austria was enthusiastically celebrated throughout the Dominion yesterday. WELLINGTON, November 4. There was a big demonstration in the Town Hall at noon. The assemblage was addressed by Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Massey said that li© was confident that the complete defeat of Germany would come in tho near future. Peace had problems as well as war, which had to be tackled with energy, intelligence, and industry. He requested the hearty co-operation of all classes for the solution of these problems.