Crisis in Austria.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 263, 23 October 1916, Page 5

Crisis in Austria.

Premier Assassinated. Berlin Fears Worse Things May Happen [PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.] Amsterdam, October 21. Count Stuergkh, Premier of Austria, was murdered at his dinner table. The publisher of a review named Adler obtained admittance and fired five revolver shots at Count Stuergkh. (Received 23, 9.25 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 22. Count Stuergkh’s death has caused a huge sensation in Austro-Hungary. The Emperor Franz Joseph was shocked. Public opinion in Berlin fears that the murder may lead to very serious consequences, as its interpretation is significant of Austria’s state of mind. [keuteb’s telegram.] (Received 23, 9.25 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 22. Count Stuergkh was a bureaucrat, a pronounced clerical, and a strong opponent of the extension of suffrage. The assassin’s motives are subject to various conjectures. The war has paralysed all civil liberty in Austria, and involved the country in frightful losses of men, many inconveniences, and fearful suffering.

DETAILS OF THE ASSASSINATION. IDENTITY OF THE MURDERER. [reuter’s telegram,] (Received 23, ii-5° a.m.) Amsterdam, October 22. The “Wiener Allegmeine Tageblatt ” states .that M. Stuergkhs was dining at bis hotel in company with Baron Aehrenthal, a brother of a former Foreign Minister. The assailant was Dr. Friedrich Adler, son of a Reichstag deputy, Dr. Victor Adler. Dr. Adler was seated three tables away, when he suddenly jumped up, moved to M. Stuergkhs table, and fired. Baron Aehrenthal, who was hit in the root by one shot, caught M- Stuergkhs as he fell. . The assailant had long been considered eccentric, and latteily was opposed by the majority of the Socialist Party. ARREST OF DR. ADLER. (Received 23, 11.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, October 22. When the shots were fired, a number of German officers with drawn swords rushed and seized M. Stuergkhs’ assailant, who did not resist, and was handed over to the police. He said: “ I will account for this before the Court. He published a socialist newspaper, and was the editor pt another. He was also the secretary of the Social Democratic Party. GOVERNED BY MINISTERS AND CROWN. POLITICAL POSITION REVEALED. [AUSTRALIAN and NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] (Received 23, 11.30 a.m.) London, October 22. Newspapers point out that the Austrian Lower House has been closed since the eve of the war. Various parties have been clamouring for its re-opening, but M. Stuergkhs was obdurate, pleading the necessity for secrecy and the leaving of national affairs to Ministers and the CrownThe virtual non-existence of the Austrian Parliament placed the Empire under Hungary’s rule. M. Stuergkhs was completely overshadowed by Count Tisza, the latter throughout speaking without constituional warrant in the name of the whole Empire. It is significant to note that the Hungarian Opposition has been demanding the re-opening of the Austrian House ot The position is critical, because in 191/ the famous Ausgleich or compact between the two countries must be renewed, or terminate. Austrian antagonism to German overlordship is daily growing, but M. Stuergkhs’ maintenance of drastic censorship muzzled both the press and the public. SIGN OF AUSTRIA’S DISINTEGRATION. THE MURDER’S PROBABLE EFFECT ON THE WAR. (Received 23, 10.10 a.m.) London, October 22. “ Il Messageros’ ” Zurich correspondent says the situation is grave in Vienna, Martial law has been proclaimed. The shooting of M. Stuergkhs is regarded in Rome as a sign of Austria’s disintegration. It is thought it may importantly affect the continuation of the war. MAN POWER ABSORBED. RESERVES EXHAUSTED. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received 23, 9-45 a.m.) Rome, October 22. A semi-official message states that Austro-Hungary has already called up her man’ power to a greater degree than any other country. The General Staff up to April had summoned 7,400,000 men, of whom 3,000,000 are now probably available, including 300,000 still in training. An approximate accuracy of the estimate may be formed by studying the numbers which march in formations or the units formed to replace losses and incapacitated as combatant units since the beginning of the war. Hitherto 23 march formations, each averaging 215j°00, have been absorbed. Hence nearly 5,000,000 have been necessary to maintain the fighting units up to strength. Of this 5,000,000 about 600,000 represent soldiers recovered from woimds and returned to duty, while the remaining 4,400,000 represent losses—prisoners, killed, wounded, missing, invalids and convalescents-yonly a small part of whom will be able to return to the firing-line.

Austria-Hungary can only now use to make good her losses the small leavings' of repeated medical revisions, and have recourse to youths of 17 or men above 5 1 years of age. The majority o'f the latter up to 55 are already in the auxiliary service.