Central Powers.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 80, 19 March 1919, Page 5

Central Powers.

PAN-GERMANS HOPEFUL. PROSPECT OF REGAINING POWER. London, March 17. Baron von Kuhlmann in a letter quoted in the Paris press asserts that the former German Empire will be rehabilitated in a shorter time than people believe. The former rulers hojve to recover sonit of their powers. (Received 19, 9.5 a.m.) Pans, March 18. Baron von Kuhlmann, a former German Foreign Minister, in a private letter, boasts that the spreao of Bolshevism will cause a reaction resulting in the early rebirth of Germany. Germans will be in Paris under favourable conditions before 1925. London, March 17. The “Daily Express’ ” Berlin correspondent states that General Hoffmann, Hindenburg’s Chief of Stah„ interviewed, stated that unless Rus sian Bolshevism was crushed the Entente’s triumph would be sterile. Bolshevism must be crushed forcibly and the position required a large Entente Army marching shoulder to shoulder with the German army. This must be done soon, otherwise the next war would be between mt Entente and the Bolsheviks in order to rescue European civilisation.— (A. and N.Z.) EXTREMELY CRITICAL PERIOD. London, March 14. Mr. W. Churchill, speaking at the Savoy Hotel, said affairs in Europe were extremely critical. "Nobody knows what is happening in Russia or what will‘be the outcome thereof, except that it will be extremely menacing to the world’s peace. Nobody knows what will be the Central 'Powers’ future, or the burden cast upon us by their dissolution. We are largely exhausted. Only courage, energy, discipline and unity will enable the Empire* to surmount its difficulties.

INTENSE CLASS BITTERNESS. PERSECUTION OF MIDDLE CLASS. Berlin, March 14. Twenty thousand troops, under General Luttvvitz, are making a house-to-house search. There is intense class 'bitterness, and many atrocities. Women armed with knives attacked imprisoned soldiers. The Spartacists at Frankfort and Halle, stripped well dressed mtn and women, some to their underclothing, and others naked. One shopkeeper, stripped, ran down the street, while cheering Spartacists pelted him with hand grenades.—(A and N.Z.)

PROPERTY TAX. Vienna, March 14. Preparatory to the imposing of a property tax, the inhabitants of German-Austria, are ordered to declare their possessions .in money, securities, shares, deposits and mort gages, also articles of luxury acquired since 1914. —(A. and N.Z.) THE HOHENZOLLERN LOOKED FOR SHELTER. IX SWEDEN. (Received 19, 9.25 a.m.) Washington, March 11. Diplomatic advices from Europe say the ex-Kaiser had arranged ror an asylum in Sweden two months before the armistice was signed, and was prevented from carrying out his plan by the Swedish Government. —(A. and N.Z.) LUDENDORFF EXCERPTS DENIED. Berlin, March 14. Ludendorff has. denied the authcr:tv of the excerpts from his book nuhlishcd in a New York paper. He said: “I protest emphatically against the statement that the Kaiser was solely responsible for unrestrietd submarine warfare. —(A. and N.Z.)