ABOUT THE ENEMY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 10

ABOUT THE ENEMY

THE DEPORTATIONS. A GERMAN EXCUSE. , Reuter’s Telegrams. AMSTERDAM, November 16. General von Bissing, Governor-Gen-eral of Belgium, in an interview with a representative of, the ‘‘New York Times,” explained that the deportation of Belgians was .really the fault of the British cutting off war materials and supplies and prohibiting tho export of produce. The consequent unbearable .conditions necessitated employing Belgian workers in Germany, which was no hardship for Belgium. RAIDS CONTINUE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 17, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 16. A wireless message from Amsterdam states that despite Cardinal Mercier’s protest the deportation of Belgian civilians continues, especially amongst railway men. Five train loads of deported civilians traverse the frontier station daily. They include lawyers, teachers, clergy, peasants and labourers. BELGIUM’S FATE. GERMAN PROPOSALS. CHANCELLOR EXPOUNDS . POLICY. LONDON, November 16. Berne reports that a wireless message states despite the secrecy of the Reichstag Committee there is considerable discussion on the proceedings. Dr von Bethmanu-flollweg did not commit the Government to a definite policy in Belgium. He outlined 1 a possible settlement, and said that Belgium must be nominally independent but remain a German dependency. King Albert must bo deposed, being an implacable enemy he would be a perpetual menace. If the Belgians desired a king, he must be a German prince. Other conditions, he said, must be a perpetual offensive and defensive Beigo-German alliance, the maintenance of a Belgian army of specifi;>d strength, a permanent German military commission .in Brussels, a commercial treaty in accordance with German dictates, and the lease of two ports as German naval bases. Several speakers demanded the retention of Belgium as part of the German Empire. None mentioned the possibility of being driven out of Belgium. MOBILISATION. TROUBLE IN GERMANY,. ‘ LONDON, November 16. The "Morning Post’s” Berne correspondent states that t>e Pwac-vj

papers are protesting against the Berlin political and military authorities mobilisation of the civilian population of the Empire without consulting the Federal Council or the Reichstag. They insist that the separate German States should be consulted. _ ' The Berlin Bourse is alarmed at tlie compulsory war service of civilians. STARVED WORKERS. lIINDENBURG COMPLAINS. AMSTERDAM, November 16. Von Hindenburg in a letter to Dr von Bethmann-Hollweg, complains that workmen in the factories have insufficient food. “ Many of tlie authorities,” he says, “do not realise that we m e fighting for our very existence. <t is impossible for the workers to remain fit for their duties if they are insufficiently nourished.” PRISON HORRORS. INHUMAN AUSTRIANS. BARBAROUS TREATMENT OF RUSSIANS. (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) PETROGR AD. November 16. ' Released prisoners tell startling stories of the horrors of the Austrian wax prison regime. A lieutenant whose aeroplane fell in Austrian lines was compelled to march to the Wishenberg camp, where the food and treatment were so terrible that the lieutenant when lie returned to Petvograd was semi-starved! and in -an advanced stage of tuberculosis. An officer states tha the unfortunate soldiers in the camp were starved. The bread was. composed of a mixture of' maize, potatoes, acorns and horse chestnuts, mixed with chopped straw and bran. Many died from hunger and exhaustion. • They were treated most brutally, hanging being quite an ordinary punishment. One man’s feet and hands were tied and ho was strung Mp on. a pole for two honrs until lie was unconscious. Other prisoners • were made to lie m a coffin at the bottom of which was a sharp edge. The lid was wire down, the only opening being lor tlie bead, A Russian who refused to spy on’his comrades was condemned to the coffin, but no aperture was left for ventilation and he was found dead m the morning. The camp was sun-onxid-ed by rows of barbed wire, backed by searchlights, police dogs and many guards. Many attempted to escape but were mostly recaptured' and transferred to a prison in Vienna. HELPED TO START WAR. GERMAN AMBASSADOR IN VIENNA DEAD. Rentor’n Telegrams. AMSTERDAM. November 16. Count von Tscliirscky is dead. He was the German Ambassador to Vienna, and his diplomacy was chiefly responsible for the war. FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. The attitude of the German Ambassador in Vienna, was referred to by Six Maurice de Bunsen, British .Ambassador in Vienna, in Ills communications to Viscount, then Sir Edward, Grey. On July 30 Sir. Maurice de Bunsen telegraphed“ The French Ambassador hears from Berlin that the Greman Ambassador at Vienna is instructed to speak seriously- to the Austro-Hun-garian Government against acting in a manner calculated to provoke a. European war. Unfortunately the German Ambassador is himself so identified with extreme . anti-Russian and anti-Serbian feeling prevalent, in Vienna, that he is unlikely to plead the cause of peace with entire sincerityAlthough I am not able to verify it, I have private information that the German Ambassador knew tlie text of the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia before it was despatched, and telegraphed it to the German Emperor. I know from the German Ambassador himself that he endorses every line of it.” (Document No. 95 in "White Paper miscellaneous No. 6.) On August 1 Sir Maurice de Bunsen telegraphed:—“. • ■ “I agree with his Excellency (the Russian Ambassador) that the German Ambassador at Vienna desired war from the first, and that his. strong personal bias probably coloured his actioii here. • The Russian Ambassador is convinced that the German Government also desired war from the first.” (Document No. 141 in which "White Paper Miscellaneous No. 6.) ' EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. HUNGARIAN PROPOSAL. Aiutralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 18,; 12.30 .a.m.) LONDON, November 17. The “Morning Post” correspondent at Budapest says that the Hungarian Government is considering a scheme for the exchange of prisoners of war fit and unfit, upon condition that they are not used in any kind of war industry. The Press enthusiastically supports the proposal, yet there is little hope that the scheme will materialise, owing to the Austro-German alliance.. Russia profoundly distrusts Germany.