POLITICAL CONFUSION IN GERMANY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 312, 5 December 1918, Page 5

POLITICAL CONFUSION IN GERMANY.

BERLIN THE WITCH’S CAULUDRON. (Received 5, 8.55 a.m.) The Hague, December 3. “Under the heading “Berlin, the Witch’s Cauldron,” the “Cologne Volkszeitung” describes an extremely rowdy meeting of the Berlin Soldiers’ Council, which revealed many scandals connected with the revolutionary methods of administration, and also disclosed that officers burned important documents recently arrived from Brussels showing the old regime’s responsibilities for the war. lhe discussions became so heated that the Bavarian, Baden and Alsace delegates withdrew, declaring that the Berlin Council had adopted Terrorism. The Baden representatives were subsequently induced to return.— (A. & N.Z.) The whole of the German press complains of the inability of the Soviets or executive committee to carry out practical administrative work. The various Socialist groups are nothing but discussion clubs involved in fierce quarrels. The “Deutsche Tages Zeitung” says that if misrule continues Bolshevism will finally triumph.—(A. & N.Z.) SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WILL COMBAT BOLSHEVISM. (Received 5, 8.55 a.m.) Stockholm, December 3. The tension in Berlin is Somewhat easier as a result of the decision to convoke the National Assembly, which it is hoped will produce a union of the parties and the stability of the administration. • A meeting of 4000 officers at Berlin, representing the noncoms of the army and navy, passed a resolution declaring that both services were determined to help the Government to combat Bolshevism.—(A. & N.Z.) An earlier message states that the Workers and Soldiers’ Council have occupied the castle at Potsdam, and it is being used to remedy the shortage of dwelling houses for the poor. The councils throughout Germany are forming so-called “iron divisions” to guard against Bolshevism. BAVARIAN ATTITUDE. Amsterdam, December 2. A Berlin message states that the Executive Committee for Greater Berlin officially states that in understanding with the Bavarian Executive Committee they resolved to demand the immediate resignation of Dr. Solf and his. replacement by a constant opponent of the old system and of the war policy; also an assurance that Herr Erzberger will not participate in the peace negotiations. The “Daily Mail” says that Bavaria is gradually reaching the conclusion to retain unity with the rest of Germany rather than seek a separate peace. UNPOPULARITY OF THE PREMIER. Copenhagen, December 2. Advices from Munich state that in connection with the revolutionary celebrations for welcoming the home-coming troops, Herr Eisner (Bavarian Premier) was hissed by his own partisans. Later, a crowd removed the red flags and stormed the Department of the Interior, shouting “ Down with Eisner.” An Amsterdam message states that Placards distributed in Berlin charge all Jews with being slackers, and attack Eisner, the head of the Bavarian Government. Other placards urge a pogrom. —(A. & N.Z.) CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY. FINANCIAL ALARM. Amsterdam, December 3. A message from Berlin states that, according to the “ Rhenische Westfaelische Zeitung,” considerable financial alarm is still prevailing in Berlin. The people continue to withdraw bank and post office deposits. The payment of rates and taxes has ceased in Greater Berlin since the revolution. The workers of Berlin have declared that the banks have become State property. They threatened likewise to confiscate all home property. COMMUNISM GAINING GROUND IN INDUSTRIAL CENTRES. RADICAL SOCIALISTS URGE CLASS WAR. (Received 5, 10.35 a.m.) The Hague, December 3. The situation at Bremen grows more acute. It is typical of much that is happening in the industrial centres, where communism is gaining ground. The Radical Socialist Knief, addressing an open-air demonstration, advocated a class war. He declared that the establishment of the National Assembly would only help bourgeoisie to regain supremacy. The workers must have their own army to secure predominance and disarm the bourgeoisie, which was collecting the ruins of the old army for the purpose of asserting its claims. The majority of those at the meeting voted against summoning the National Assembly, and unanimously approved of arming the proletariat. A subsequent meeting of the Bremen Soldiers’ Council was twice interrupted by extremists from the streets, where a huge threatening crowd assembled. Herr Knief secured order, and the C ouncil voted by 97 to 86 in favour of the National Assembly, and also rejected a proposal to disarm the bourgeoisie and arm the proletariat by too to 19 votes. The announcement of the decision evoked roars of Shame. The chairman explained that the vote was necessary for the sake of the country’s food. —(A. & N.Z.) THE KOHENZOLLERN CANC. EX-KATSER WANTED FOR MURDER. (Received 5, 9-45 a.m.) New York, December 4. Catherine Harrea, daughter of the late Patrick Callan, who was killed when the Lusitania was sunk, has applied at Chicago for a warrant against the ex-Kaiser, charging him with murder.—(Argus.) DOUBTFUL GENUINENESS OF ABDICATION. New York, December 3. A message via America states that the “ Manchester Guardian” comments that the Kaiser’s formal abdication .was tardv, and this document was executed as recently as last Friday, and received under “ Our Imperial Seal.’’ lhe Crown Prince has not so far executed a similar d£ed. It is natural to conclude that he reserves his claim as heir to his father, and is waiting an opportunity to enforce it. The “ Morning Post ” says it is possible tliat the document purporting to hare been a foiinal abdication is genuine, and equally possible that it is nothing of the kind. In either case the instrument contains no word concerning secession of tne dvnastv, nor is it counter-signed bv any responsible official. It is also well worth mentioning that it was signed when a popular clamour arose fcr his extradition. The hospitality of Holland has been abused. — (Reuter.) An Amsterdam message states that persons lixir.g in the < hanccllor’s' house r.t SpD rcver.led that (iPncral \on Ilmccnburtr arranged the Kaiser’s abdication on November Sth, after half-an-hoiir’s discussion m his bedroom at the Hotel Britannique,” at the end of which the Kaiser re-appeared, stenped into a motor-car without a word <"■: farewell t <. his staff, an<l went into exile.- :A. & N.Z. : COY/ARDLY CHARACTERISTIC THE ORDINARY BULLY. sew \r>rk. December 3. German .-<!■, nv.- mate that the Slight of the Kaiser is condemned tn manv quarters, particularly among the soldiers. Dr. Stcinager, Professor of Law, writes in “Der Tag”: “No criticism is too strong, because the Emperor’s action is un-ki-ndv. v.nseldierlv, and unmanlv, and has served to give the iKrntfi ' bl.-w to mon-rchm! ideas in Germany. A monarch cannot run-away like a schoolboy. If he thought himself incapable of retaining his position, the battlefront offered him an opportunity of at least making a kingly and dignified exit.”

An Amsterdam message states that the Kaiser, interviewed, declined to take the responsibility for the war, and declared that Herr Bethmann-Hollweg and Herr von Jagow were responsible for the policy. They sent him unwillingly to Norway to prevent his intervention at the present crisis. Herr Bethmann-Hollweg denies this. GERMAN GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATING WAR LORDS’ METHODS. (Received 5, 10.35 a.m.) London, December 3. In an interview with an English journalist, Herr Haase (Minister of Foreign Affairs in the new German Government) declared that the guilt of the war lies with Austro-German militarism. He stated that the Government is investigating the Ger»ian Foreign Office’s pre-war methods, especially in the handling of secret funds. The Government had not decided on the question of dealing with the Hohenzollerns. Herr Haase thought they were 'sufficiently punished by international odium. —(A. & N.Z. and Reuter.) WILHELM JUNIOR INTERVIEWED. New York, December 3. Interviewed in Holland by an American correspondent, the ex-Crown Prince denied that he had relinquished any of his rights of succession. He was convinced that Germany had lost the war in October, IQI4, but would not have lost it if the Chiefs of the General Staff had not lost their heads. He tried to make peace then, even at the sacrifice of Alsace-Lorraine, but was told to mind his own business and confine himself to commanding his armies. EX-PRINCES TO LEAVE GERMANY. Vancouver, December 3. The German Government has consented to permit a number of Hohenzollern princes to leave Germany, provided they leave their fortunes behind. Prince August Wilhelm and his wife are going to the Argentine shortly.—(Reuter.) KAISER’S PERSON MUST BE SURRENDERED. NO SANCTUARY ON EARTH. London, December 3. The “ Daily Express,” referring to the Allies’ demand for the surrender of the Kaiser by the Netherlands, says that the opinion is held that the Netherlands will not put difficulties in the way. Wilhelm’s position will be analogous to that of a pirate or slave trader who is not granted sanctuary by any country. The Attorney-General declares that our right to press for the Kaiser’s extradition on legal grounds is merely subsidiary. We have a stronger moral claim. Holland must realise that the country which shelters a criminal is scarcely entitled to inclusion in the League of Nations.—-(A. & N.Z. and Reuter.) TRIAL AND THE ROPE DEMANDED. SEAMEN THREATEN TO STRIKE. London, December 3. Mr. George Barnes, M.P., speaking at Netherton, said: “I am for hanging the Kaiser. It will be a monstrous thing if the greatest murderer in history escapes just punishment.”— (A. & N.Z. and Reuter.) (Received 5, 9.10 a.m.) New York, December 4. Mr. Edward Tupper, organiser for the British National Firemen and Sailors’ Union, interviewed, intimated that unless the ex-Kaiser was tried before a court for his crimes, British seamen would call a general strike.—(A. & N.Z.) Durban, December 3. A mass meeting passed resolutions strongly advocating repatriation of interned Germans, punishment for illtreatment of Allied prisoners, and the retention of the German colonies. Similar meetings were held at other places.—(Reuter.) FATE OF GERMANY’S EASTERN ARMY. HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. (Received 5, 8.55 a.m.) Copenhagen, December 3. The German People’s Commissary, Herr Barth, deplored the situation of the army in the East, which, it is feared, may suffer the fate that befel Napoleon’s army in 1814. —A. & N.Z. FITTING END TO THE PIRATE FLEET. ADMIRAL BEATTY’S COMMENT. London, December 3. Admiral Beatty, in a speech, said that the crew of the Lion on the eve of escorting the Germans to Scapa Flow, said it was a pitiable and horrible sight to see the great ships following a British light cruiser to internment. ” The sides of the old Lion, which had been well hammered in the past, must have ached, as I ached and you ached, to give them another taste of what we intended for them. But their humiliating end was the proper end for an enemy who had proved himself lacking in chivalry at sea.. The enemy’s strategy, tactics, and behaviour were beneath contempt. His end was worthy of a nation which waged war in such a fashion. — (A. & N.Z.)” FOOD PLENTIFUL AT TREVES. (Received 5, 9.10 a.m.) New York, December 4. Mr. Edwin James, correspondent with the American Army in Treves, says that, in view of Germany asking the United States to feed her, the Americans are astonished at the plentifulness of food in Treves The inhabitants do not show traces of ill nourishment, and though the food prices are high they are cheaper than Paris prices. WAR PRISONERS ALONE SHOW SIGNS OF .MISERY. Mr. James says the only people showing hardships and starvation are the Allied war prisoners, who are gaunt pictures of misery and are clad in rags. General orderliness is well preserved. The condition of the city is in contrast to the wide devastation in the Franco-Belgian centres. — (A. & N.Z.) THE BELGIANS ACROSS THE MEUSE. A Belgian communique states: Our advance is proceeding methodically. Our cavalry entered Juliers. Our infantry reached the Ai.x-la-Chapelle-Eupen line. Calm reigns in the occupied localities.

I AT ANTWERP. I | A STIRRING ENTRY. i London. Nov. 20. ■ Mr, Philip Gibbs t "legraphs :Th * t King and Queen of the'Belgians, in open carriage, made a State en- ; try into Antwerp on Tuesday to the , accompaniment of tne pealing ot tiie Caihedral bells and cheerin ■crowds. Public and other building •> in the broad streets, and nohi? squares were draped with long bankers, while streamers and flags w.'-r? hung acioss the hiehways. People in tne villages 1 brooch which th.* • royalties pas.-ed had planted Chris,mas trees adorned with little flan.-' and lantern 1 as though for Joe cumin ct of Father Christmas v-itn th--spirit of peace. I There was little sign of Antwerp s ' 1914 bombardment. It was almost : startlinc, after the ruined cities m the fighting line, to sr-e comforte. even luxuries, and the norma’ life of the vast population of well-dressed people, bearinc no signs of privation, the shops bulging with food and sweetmeats, the theatres and opera houses in full swing, and restaurants ‘ and cafes crowded.

Although the people of Antwerp had not suffered physically , their joy at liberation and the enthusiasm with which they greeted the King, also the stories they told of German occupation, were sufficient proof 5 of tiv-ir past mental suffering, i Thousands went to prison for trivial - ; offences or for ir-fusal to pay fines. The German soldiers, when they - heard the terms of the armistice, ; gathered round their officers and ’ tore epauletts and other badges ' from them, saying. "We will not ■ take your orders now. ’ ; BACK TO BRUSSELS. • ■ It is expected the Belgian Go- . verium nt, Ministerial departments, ■ arid diplomatic corps will leave ( Havre to-day (V>’r:dnesday>. [ Correspondents state tliat the Bur--1 gontaster M. Max was accorded a ->tn tin- jition w lit n lie returned to Ihusse.s <>n Sunday. He effected Heit o. ng to an outbreak of lokhiiina m_ a German town. >...>,1.,- la- was imprison'.d. He trateilca towards Brussels in German i loities. carts, and military trains without attempting concealment. He forced his way the latter part of the journey through retreating Gerpnan troops.