CENTRAL POWERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 27, 1 February 1918, Page 5

CENTRAL POWERS

BiU STRIKES IN GERMANY PEACE WITHOUT ANNEXATIONS . ' r DEMANDED. MOVEMENT SPREADING RAPIDLY. RUSSIAN METHODS ADOPTED. (Australian and N.Z 0»bl« Association) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 30. A Berlin message states that the strikers' demands include peace without annexation or indemnities, abolition -of military- control of war factories, and restoration, of the right of public meeting. It is estimated that there are 750,000 strikers- at Berlin. The strike is rapidly- becoming general in other centres. Herr Hugo Haase (leader of the Minority Socialists), Herr Ledebour, Herr'Philip Scheidemann (leader of the Majority Socialists), and Herr Ebert, and otner prominent Socialists have joined the newly-formed Workmen'si Council. The Secretary for the Interior refused to receive the Council's, deputation. Bolshevik pamphlets are being distributed! in. Berlin factories declaring that -since the Russian revolutionaries triumphed at Brest Litovsk the German workers must' secure the revolutionaries' triumph in Germany. GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND STRIKERS. USE OF MACHINE GUNS IF NECESSARY. POLICE BRUTALLY DISPERSE DEMONSTRATORS. {Reuter's Telegrams.) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 30. The German Government has authorised the use of macliin e guns against the strikes if necessary. • The. police brutally dispersed demonstrators 1 at Hamburg.. The strike at Krupp's is admitted. A semi-official report says that it is unimportant. THREE PAPERSSUSPENDEO COMMENTING ON THE STRIKES. (Axis trail an and N.Z. Cable Association) f (Rec. Feb. 1, 11.35 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 31. The publication of the Berliner Tageblatt, the Berliner Post, and the Vorwaerts, has been suspended owing to comments on the strikes. COMFUeWoHRE PORTS STRIKERS SAID TO HAVE' ' RESUMED. OTHER REPORTS INDICATE WIDE EXTENSION. ' (Australian anil N.Z. Gable Association (Rec. Feb. 1, 11:40 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Jan. 31. '. Though a report states that the Berlin strikers have decided to resume on ' Thursday, satisfied with three days' demonstration, other Teports announce an extension to Easen, "Westphalia, Kiel, and Hamburg. Xt is stated that all the naval munition* works at Kiel have peen idle since Sdnd&y . The authorities fear a railway strike. The railwaymen have organised a meeting to discus#) the strike. The police intervened. There were many arrests. LATEST REPORTS AGREEMENT THAT STRIKT|; ARE SPREADING. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Rec. Feb. 1, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 31. Latest reports from Germany agree that'the strik e is spreading. The VoTwaerts calls the English and -Frenan workers to show that they are in earnest about peace, and adds: "It ip not only & matter of achieving unity at home, but in calling over the_ frontiers and trenches to ask for solidarity! from, foreign working classes." The strikers' terms include seizure of food "etocks for the purpose of equal distribution, the immediate introduction of -equal and secret franchise for -all men and women in Prussia over 20 year* of aec. BAD HABVEBT 18 CEBMANV NO BARLEY FOR BREWERS. tAastraliaa »4 N.Z. Cable Association BERNE, Jan. 30. Th e German Brewers' News states that owing *to the 'bad oat harvest the supply of barleyi to brewers has stoppedj and brewing is at a standstill. AUSTRIAN FOOD SUPPLY GREAT FLOURMILL DESTROYED. (Reuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 30. - .The. biggest flourmill at Vienna, the .chief.supplier of the city, was destroyed byi fire,' together with large stocks of grain and flour.

GERMANY'S SOUTH SEft COLONIES HAMBURG MERCHANTS' REPRESENTATIONS. ,Reuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 30. The Cologne Gazette (semi-official), states that the association of South Sea firms at Hamburg has sent a memorandum to the Reichstag emphasising the necessity for getting back the South Sea colonies, and pointing out their great value, not only for their productivity, but their great strategic value and favourable situation for the establishment of wireless stations.