PEACE MOVES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17934, 30 October 1918, Page 7

PEACE MOVES.

AUSTRIA AND PEACE. LONDON RECEIVES REQUEST FOR ARMISTICE. LONDON October 28 (6,5 p.m.). Tha Foreign Office has received Austria's application for an armistice. TERMS IN LONDON. LONDON, October 23. According to the Contral News Agency Austria's peace terms have reached London. AUSTRIA'S APPEAL TO AMERICA. NEW YORK,' October 28. The text of the Austrian Note, as given out in Switzerland, briefly asserts that Austria-Hungary will adhere to the same point of view as President Wilson, especially regarding the Czecho-Slavoks and Jugo-Slays. Consequently, Austria-Hungary is accepting all the conditions laid down by President Wilson, and asks the President to initiate overtures looking for an armistice and peace. Austria-Hun-gary is ready for an armistice on a,ll fronts, without awaiting the results of other negotiations.

ALLIED COMMENT.

AUSTRIA'S NOTE AMOUNTS TO

CAPITULATION United Service.

(Received October 30, 12.40 a.m.) PAEIS, October 28.

Austria's Noto is tantamount to actual capitulation., Thus the Central Alliance and Mittel Europa disappears. ROME, October 28. The "Tribuna" states that AustriaHungary was never a nation, but merely an army upholdine; a dynasty. LONDON, October 28. The British Press is more restrained. While gratified at the startling weekend turn of events, the majority point out that there is no sign of a changed heart or even the pretence of repentance as far as Germany is concerned. There is a growing insistence that no safe peace is possible while the Kaiser remains. The "Standard" says that the Kaiser by the scratch of a pen can destroy the new constitution and restore Ludendorff and ruthless submarining. Recalling that the Kaiser is a notorious coward, tho "Standard" thinks that this characteristic may prove a vital factor in tho next few days. Tho "Star" statos that tho negotiations have reached a point of intense delicacy. Tho Press must not embarrass the momentous Allied Council. Tho French and Italian Press regard the Austrian Note as dramatically changing tho wholo situation and bringing peace appreciably nearer. Few expected the Dual Monarchy's break-up so quickly. The prevailing impression h that it is now merely a question of how quicklv Germany will bo compelled to follow. " Intransigent Germany has now nothing left except her own rapidly waning strength.

AUSTRIAN CABINET RESIGNS. Keutor'e Telegrams. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. The Austrian Cabinet has resigned, and Dr Lammasch has been appointed Premier. ANTI-GERMAN FEELING. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) -BERNE; October 28. Reliable information states that all the Austrian Grand Dukes aro taking refuge in Godollo Castle, near Budapest. The students in Budapest demonstrated before the Parliament, calling for the expulsion of all Germans. All Hungarian officers living in Vienna have been recalled to defend tho Hungarian 1 frontier. AUSTRIAN ARMY STILL FIRM. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. . The Anglo-Italian advance on the Piave is regarded as extremely successful. All objectives were reached. Jhe Italian attack on tho right and loft was delayed somewhat owing to tho difficulties of bridge construction under heavy fire. Whatever the internal conditions of Austria, the enemy's actual front shows no signs of declining morale. The enemy is fighting well. EMPEROR'S APPEAL TO THE FORCES. Router'n lolograma. , (Received October 29, 11.40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 29. The Emperor Karl, in in order to tho Austrian army and navy, urgently appeals to their loyalty during tha present grave confusion, .ind says: — " Tho day of peace is approaching." KARL NOT WANTED IN BUDAPEST. (Received October 29, 8.45 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 28. i Tho "Vossiche Zeitung" has announced that the Burgojuastor Szegedin

officially requested the Emperor Karl and the Empress to postpone their proposed visit to Budapest sine die, as the local authorities were unable to guarantee their personal safety. VERSAILLES CONFERENCE. MEETING TO CONSIDER HUN NOTES. NEW YORK, October 28. Tho United Press Washington correspondent states: —Official circles in Washington regard the German Note as an attempt to force an early statement of the Allied armistice terms. The Note is viewed generally as a subtlo effort to show the United Staes that reforms are proceeding, but the world has no proofs that the reforms are sincere or will actually bo given effect to. It was authoritatively learned to-day that President Wilson may not reply to the German Note. The correspondent learns that the question of an armistice is now left in the hands of the military commanders of the United States and the Allies, subject to the approval of the Versailles Conference, which is to meet to-morrow. The next move, therefore, will come from Versailles. A NOTABLE GATHERING. United Servioe. PARIS, October 28. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Arthur Balfour,', accompanied by naval and military officers, havo arrived, and aro attending the Council of tho Allied and associate! Governments, Premiers, Foreign Ministers, Field Commanders, and large stalfs. The lirst question awaiting decision is whether tho associated Governments will reply through President Wilson to Germany’s latest Note, or wait until Germany sends parlementaires to Marshal Foch to ask for an armistice. Whatever course is decided' upon there is no doubt that the Allies and probably the associated Governments will agree’ to exact a practical surrender. LFDENDORFF’S POSITION. MAY BE COURT-MARTIALLED. NEW YORK, October 28. A United Press message from Romo, dated October 26, says: —lt is reported that Hindenburg may order a courtmartial to try Ludendorff. Advices received at Washington from Tho Hague indicate that Ludendorff resigned because ho disagreed with the reply to President Wilson’s Note.

(Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) COPENHAGEN, October 28. Ludendorff returned to headquarters to take farewell of the army. His resignation is duo to tho placing of tho military authorities under civilian control. Ludendorff at first eagerly recommended an armistice, as lie considered tht German army's position desperate. Later Ludendorff modified his view and attempted to interfere with tho Government's policy. LUDENDORFF'S SUCCESSOR, •'Tho Tiruia" Service. (Received October 29, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 29. Von Lossberg succeeds Ludendorff(Genera) von Lossberg was Chief of Staff to General Sdxt von Arnim. It appears that von Lossberg is regarded as tho master brain of the German defence in the West. According to Professor Wagoner, von Lossberg, who was promoted to tho rank of colonel in July, 1915, was : selected at the most critical moment of the French offensive in Champagne, toward the end of September, 1915, to bo chief of the General Staff of the Third Army. Owing to the reputation he then made he was given a similar task at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, being appointed chief of tho General Staff of the Second Army, July 2, 1916. When tho Battle of Arras began lr.st April, von Lossberg was again called upon, and was mado chief of the General Staff of tho German army which bore the brunt of the British attack. After the Battle of Arras he was transferred to the General Staff of the Fourth Army. After the British attack of Julv 31, von Lossberg was specially promoted to the rank of major-general. Professor Wagener describes Lossberg as a man of extraordinary physical endurance nud energy, who himself says that he ,l;as not had more than four hours' continuous sleep in any night since the beginning of tho Battle of Arras.) Router's Telegrams. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) BERNE, October 28. It is reported that General von Steehkt, formerly von Mackensen's Chief of Staff, has succeeded Ludendorff. ' ■ GENERAL STAFF UNDER CONTROL. United Service. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. General Maurice, writing in the "Daily Mail," says that Ludeudorff's resignation means the defeat of the

"bitter enders," and that tho German Staff has been- forced to accept the peace policy. Tho " llerliner Tageblatt" denounces the pnn-Glormans intention to issue a pronuneiamento by Prussian generals, headed by Ludendorff, designed to prevent the Reichstag reforms. " Vorwaerts" boasts that Ludendorff fell because ho attempted to dictate tho Government's policy. LONDON, October 28. The Central News Agency says that there are contradictory rumours in the German Press in reference to a report that von Hindenburg has resigned. DEFIANT SOCIALISTS. HURL INSULTS AT KAISER. EfluWa Telegrams. (Received October 30, 1.60 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, October 38. In tho Reichstag the Independent Socialist, Herr Cc-hn, amid great commotion and applause, declared that the alternatives were war with the Hohenzollerns or peace without the Hohenzollerns. He added: "We extend our hand to our friends beyond the frontiers in this struggle." The Socialist, Ruble, said: "The Kaiser must abdicate." Thereupon he was called to order, but retorted: "A call to order will not save the Kaiser from tho criminal court." JUNKERS HINT AT CIVIL WAR. United Service. (Received October 30, 1.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 28. Germany's attitude in the immediate futuro is likely to be the outcome of international, economic and political developments rather than military. The latest indication is the flaming speeches marking a Red Letter Reichstag sitting, wherein other Independents besides Ledebonr and Cohn ooldly hurled insults at the Kaiser, Ludendorff and Hindenburg, which, uttered in 1917, would have been followed by immediate imprisonment. The Rhineland Social Democrats /have issued a manifesto stating that if the Kaiser does not abdicate he will be removed. On tho other hand the Junker press continues vigorously to oppose the Kaiser's abdication, even hinting at a preference for civil war rather than see an elected president of a German republicLUDENDORFF ATTEMPTED A COUP D'ETAT. "The Times" Service. (Received October 30, 2 a.m.) LONDON, October 29. The civilian evacuation of the Wesli Rhine districts has reached the dimensions of a panic, due to air raids and persistent rumours that the German army will shortly bo withdrawn beyond the Rhine. There is a tremendous rush to the banks, despite the bankers' proclamation urging calmness. The evacuation and house closings, and the constant succession of refugee trains have badly affected the workers in Cologne and Dusseldorf, resulting in increasingly riotous peace demonstrations. Even tho Socialist Press ? fearing the results, implores the workers to keep their heads. The latest German news suggests that Ludendorff was thrown overboard while attempting a military coup d'etat in Berlin. His dismissal created extraordinary excitement, Berliners thinking it to be the prelude to the Kaiser's abdication. The wildest stories aro current regarding supposed quarrels tweon the Kaiser, Hmdenburc and Ludendorff respecting the Kaiser s abdication, in the course of which the Kaicer retorted: " Your dispute as to funeral arrangements is rather tedious to tho corpse. ' Tho "Frankfurter Zeitung" corroborates the coup d'etat theory, stating that the militarv party attempted ! and failed to upset the Government. , ' A Hnguo correspondent points out 1 that although tho Kaiser reluctantly allowed ■ Ludendorff to go, the actual power still remains with the arm*" leadJ ers, and a coup d'etat may vet succeed j if it has sufficient army backing..

GERMAN REFORMS. POWERS OF REICHSTAG. AMSTERDAM. October 28. ' " Vorwacrts announces that tW following is the text of tho German Reform Bill: — (1) War can only be declared by sanction of the Reichstag and Bundesrat: . (2) Tho Chancellor can only remain in power while ho possesses the confidence of the Reichstag. (3) Tho Chancellor will be responsible for the political actions of the Kaiser, and the Ministry will he responsible for tho tenuro of their office to the Bundesrnt and Reichstag. The appointment, promotion and dismissal or officers in tho Army and Navy will only he effective by tho Chancellor’s signature, while the Minister of War will be responsible to the Reichstag. MINISTERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES. "Tho Times" Service. (Received October 29, 7.30 p.m.j LONDON, October 28. Tho “ Reichstag ” has appointed a Commission to consider the responsibility and impeachment *of the Chanccllors, Foreign Ministers and Wai Ministers during the war.

GERMANY’S INTENTIONS. REASON FOR DR SOLF’S MANOEUVRES. Unitod Service. (Received October 29, 7.80 p.m.) LONDON, October 28. Nearly all the Paris and London newspapers think that Dr Solf is manj ceuvrmg for position both at home arid abroad so that he can oither exploit President Wilson’s fourteen points or lure the Allies into a statement of their armistice terms, which will then be used to goad the people to last effort to save the dynasty. Newspapers demand that Germany shall bo made to raise the white flag. SUBMARINES STILL OPERATING. (Received October 29, 8.45 p-m.) LONDON, October 28. The Norwegian reports that German submarines were seen proceeding homeward flymg the white flag are discredited by the Admiralty. Submarine warfare is still going on, despite the German promise to refrain from sinking passenger ships. It is reported that larger and faster submarines are uow at sea, seeking Allied shipping. 'AMERICA’S TERMS. • SENATOR CRITICISES PRESIDENT. NEW YORK, October 28. In the United States Senate Senator Knox attacked President Wilson because ho is seeking to make peace on his own terms, not on terms representative of American opinion. Tho Senate ought to take into its own hands the consideration of the peaca treaty. Tho President had been guilty of political partisanship. WASHINGTON, October 28. ! It is not expected that President Wilson will reply to the latest German Note, which is regarded merely as an indication of Berlin’s urgent desire to learn the Allies’ terms. Senator Knox referred to President Wilson’s ideas of peaco as being scat- j-' hared through various addresses. Whew . *

ther right or wrong, they ought not to bo the President’s ideas alone, but’ Also the American people’s. GREEK AIMS, VENEZELOS EXPECTED IN AMEBIC A. LONDON, October 28. The United Press Washington corresKndcnt learns that M. Venezrelos is ely to visit America in December to Jiibmit Greece’* war aims to President Wilson. THE HUN BRUTALITIES. PUNISHMENT DEMANDED. Keut-or'g Telegrams. (Received October 30, 1.50 a.m.) - LONDON, October 29. A joint meeting of the Liberal and Unionist War Committees in the House of Commons passed a resolution for submission to the Premier, stating that any armistice should include a condition for the immediate repatriation of all prisoners of war. • The British Government should notify Germany forthwith that as a condition of peace Cm will insist on the surrender, trial, conviction and punishment of all persons responsible fon cruelties perpetrated on prisoners and the immediate appointment of a commission to collect evidence of inhuman treatment.