GERMAN DISCONTENT WITH PRESENT ADMINISTRATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17026, 6 December 1918, Page 5

GERMAN DISCONTENT WITH PRESENT ADMINISTRATION

SPECTRE OP BOLSHEVISM HANGING OVER COUNTRY. Australian and N.Z. and Reuter. THE HAGUE, Doc. 4.

The whole German press complains of the inability of the Soviets or Executive Committees of tho Soldiers' and Workmen's Councils to carry out practical administrative work. Tho various Socialist groups are nothing but discussion clubs, involved in fierce quarrels. Tho Deutsche Tages Zeitung says that if misrule continues, Bolshevism will finally triumph.

Under the heading " The Berlin Witches' Cauldron," the Cologne Volks Zeitung describes an extremely disorderly meeting of the Berlin Soldiers' Council, revealing many scandals connected with the revolutionary methods of administration. It also disclosed that officers burned important documents recently arrived from Brussels showing the responsibility of the old regime for the war. The discussions became so heated that Bavarian, Baden, and Alsace delegates withdrew, declaring that the Berlin Council had adopted terrorism. ■ The Baden representatives were subsequently induced to return.

Stockholm reports state that tension in Berlin has somewhat eased as a result ,of the decision to convoke a National Assembly. Herr Branting, the Swedish Socialist leader, telegraphed to Herr Ebert approving of the Assembly, which he hopes will produce union of parties and stability of administration.

A meeting of 4000 officers in Berlin, representing the army and the navy, passed a resolution declaring that both services were determined to help the Government to combat Bolshevism.