THE REVOLUTION IN GERMANY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16406, 28 December 1918, Page 9

THE REVOLUTION IN GERMANY.

THE NEW REPUBLIC.

A CONSTITUTION DRAFTED.

(By Cable.—Pre*® Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Aa&ociation.) LONDON, December 23. Advices from Berlin state that HeiT Preuss, Secretary of State lor the Interior, assisted, by experts in International Law, has draited » eonstitution for the new German Republic, ilie Constitution proposes that the Government shall bo headed by a President elected by the people, and that the President's authority shall be intermediate between that of the American President and the English King. The President nominates the Cabinet, liko the President of the United States. Instead of the old Federal Council, Herr Preuss proposes that the delegates of the various German States shall be' constituted a Second Chamber,resembling the United States Senate. The President and the Government will have as much power as is reconcilable with the independence of each individual State, including the control of railways, post and telegraphs, Customs and armv. It is expected that fifteen States will make up'the new confederation, of which the area and boundaries are very different from those now existing. • THE REVOLUTION COMPLETE. SERIOUS FOOD SHORTAGE. NEW YORK, December 2G. Mr Frederick Smith, the correspondent of the "Chicago Tribune," spent a fortnight travelling in Germany, being the first American correspondent to enter the country since the armistice. He cables that there are three phases of the German situation. Firstly, that the revolution is complete and apparently genuine. The country is striving to resume its former peaceful vocations, but is shuddering at the prospect or feeding millions of returning soldiers.-" Secondly, Germany is suffering grievously from lack of food, especially in the unproductive regipns, where influ- | enza is causing widespread mortality, i Thirdly, all Germany is united in the j belief that President Wilson can save the country from famine and Bolshevism. Mr Smith is inclined to believe that women and children will starve in | the coming winter, unless breadstuffs land fats are available quickly. LOJ<T>ON, December 2G. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press Association interviewed ! Herr Scheidemann, Minister of Finance, who said: —"We are all heartily in accord with President Wilson's principles. lam convinced that a stable constitutional Socialist Government in Germany will soon be established, able to deal with the Allies and the United States.!' Spartacism is rapidly dying, and all disordefs in Germany are shortly expected to disappear. The correspondent says that although there were no big dinners in Berlin on Christmas Day, and -some of the poorer people had not enough food, nobody starved. Cafes, caterers, and confectioners displayed gaudy sweetmeats, which had a peculiar taste, as they did •not contain any sugar. The streets and theatres were crowded with soldiers. TTiey looked better fed than civilians. NEW YORK, 26. The Coblenz correspondent of the United Press Association reports that a large quantity of food supplies has been stolen by the German population from American camps. The commandant ordered a search of the houses.

THE MUTINY OF SAILORS. LONDON, December 2G. A section of the Berlin garrison has joined the revolting sailors. It is believed that there is a danger, of the whole garrison revolting, leaving the Government without any troops. A hundred persons were killed in the street fighting on Tuesday. Eventually the Government troops captured the Royal stables, the mutinous sailors surrendering. Armed civilians assisted tho sailors. ~ NEW YORK, December 26. The Copenhagen correspondent of the United Press Association says that .according to a despatch from Berlin civilians and troops are joining the revolting sailors, anil that the position of the Government prows more precarious. BERLIN, December 2G. Eight hundred sailors captured the Red Castle, a former Royal residence, and arrested t*e military commander of Berlin. The Republican Guard turned, machine-guns on'the cn«tl« and the bnlconv. from which the Kaiser made his war speech. The castle was wrecked, and much damage was done. (Received December 27th. 9.30 p.m.) BERLIN, December 2TJ. Tho riots were caused by the military commander's decision to pay off tho naval reservists on duty at the revolutionary headquarters. The Spartacus forces have seized the War Ministry and the office of "Yorwaerts." (Received December 27th, 10.40 p.m.) BERLIN, December 20. The disturbances have somewhat subsided,, the soldiers and sailors declaring the trouble over. The sailors remain in the citv. but have evacuated the badly battered palace.

APPOINTMENT OF SUPREME COMMANDER. BERLIN, December 26. Each regiment in Berlin, together with the sailors, selects delegates. These form a committee, which appoints on© of their number as supreme commander of the troops. The commander is responsible to the People's Council. A FIGHT AGAINST SOCIALISTS. COPENHAGEN, December 23. Owing to the German Socialists demanding the abolition of aJI rights be-

longing to the Church, Herr Spain, the leader of the Catholic Centre Party, is calling on all adherents of tlio Church to engage in fighting tho Socialists. LIEBKNECHT IN CLOVER. COPENHAGEN, December 23. Berlin roports state that Dr. Licbknecht, the Spartacus Party Leader, is suffering from ophthalmia. Ho is lodged in tho Kaiser's palace, sleeps in tho Kaiser's bed, and uses tho Royal box whore the Soviot Congress meets. SOLDIERS' AND WORKERS' CONGRESS. SCENES OF TUMULT AND VIOLENCE. (Austrslisn And N.Z. Ctblo Association.) (Received December 27th, 7.30 p.m.) ROTTERDAM, December 23. The Congress of Soldiers' and Workers' Councils at Berlin closed amid scenes of tumult and violence. No one knows how the 460 delegates wero elected. In the place of honour was the Council of Six, with their innumerable secretaries and under-secretaries. The self-appointed Ministers quarrelled violently among themselves in public. Though open war has thus been declared between the Majority and Independent Socialists, yet no member of the Government resigned, and Herr Ledebour scornfully dismissed a proposal that both Socialist parties should co-operate in electing the National Assembly.

STREET FIGHTING CONTINUED. (Received December 28th, 1.50 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 27. Street fighting continued in Berlin on Tuesday and till Wednesday morning. It is estimated that a hundred persons were killed. Large numbers of the Berlin Guards have joined the sailors, also a few of the Republican Guards. Great numbers of armed civilians continue to join tho sailors. The latter occupy the Koenigstrasso as far as the Town House. Tho Spartacus Party, who are supporting the sailors, demand the Ebert Government's resignation in favour of one constituted by Ledebour and Liebknecht. The latter held a lenthy conference with Ministers at the Chancellor's palace, but tho result has not been disclosed. Further fighting is foared, as tho Spartacus Party and the sailors have decided to compel the Guards to return to Potsdam. The latter are now stationed hi the Uuter-dcn-Linden. AN ELECTION MANIFESTO. ("The Times.") (Received December 28th, 1.50 a.m.) LONDON, December 24. All parties in German Poland, except tho Socialists, have issued an election manifesto proclaiming an anti-Russian and anti-German policy, demanding the return of Dantzig, and favouring a formal alliance with Allied countries. (Australian and N.Z. Cuble Association.) (Received Decomber 28th, 1.50 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, December 24. A Berlin telegram states that Czech troops have reached the border of Saxouy. The Government has appealed to Berlin for assistance. FRESH COAL STRIKES. (Received Decomber 28tli, 1.50 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, December 24. Fresh strikes in the Silesian mines, organised by Dr. Liebknecht, have reduced the coal optput by half, also the Rhenish and Westplialian output has been reduced by the strike. All the industries of Saxony are threatened with paralysis within a fortnight, unless the situation improves. "Tho Politiken's" Berlin correspondent says that the Spartacus Party has determined to separato completely the Independents and the Majority Socialists before tho end of the year.