CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 21

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

The Chicago Daily News’s Paris correspondent has interviewed two Americans from Russia, who were permitted to travel through Germany because the authorities were grateful for their cal'© of German prisoners in Russia. They wore surprised at the Allies’ surprising ignorance of Germany’s weakness. They declare that conditions in Germany axe pitiable. The people are starving, and

are haggard, wan, and listless. They believo the next offensive will bo the finish for Germany. The pan-Germans'' present demand for a dictatorship is a sign of collapse, as the people are beginning to resent militarism savagely. *> Ofucial advices "from Greece state that a German aviator, a deserter, reports that daily there are mutinies in the German army. Hundreds are starving and deserting. Dr Dernberg, speaking in tho Prussian Upper House, said they must abate tho shocking living conditions in tho cities, or the terrible decline- in tho birth rate and tho mortality among children under one year of age would be still worse. Charles Grasty, cabling to the New York Times, states: I find ever-increasing evidence in Holland and Switzerland that Germany is feeling the pinch of starvation, and that the strict enforcement of tho blockade is affecting tho Germans' stomachs and; nerves. Therefore they will shortly make a, last, desperato effort. The Allies' militaryleaders believe that the enemy will strike hard on the Franco-British and Italian fronts; that they will utilise all their submarines and send cruisers and U boats to American waters; also that they will use deadlier gases and bigger guns. Mr Grasty adds: "But the Allie 3 are thoroughly prepared, and will meet tho onslaught confidently end unflinchingly." The Daily Express states that in a naval mutiny at Kiel on January 7 it is reported that 38 officers were killed. The correspondent, says that the mutiny was begun by the submarine crews, and subsequently spread to portions of the crews on tho cruisers at Kiel. Officers were killed by tho men, . several of whom participated in tho first mutiny. The submarine- men especially are dissatisfied owing to the fact that the number of boats and comrades returning to Germany has decreased. STRIKES AND RIOTING IN AUSTRIAN The United Press Petrograd correspondent states that wholesale disaffection ■ is spreading in the Austro-German army, and entiro Austrian companies have been Rhob for sympathising with Russian Socialism. Twentj'-fivo thousand armed Germans have joined the fast-growing number of deserters, Von Hindenburg is strenuously endeavouring to put down insubordination, and ordered a thousand men to be shot fotf refusing to obey officers. Lo Matin states that metal and transporS workers : form the principal body of tho strikers in Lower Austria. There.was very serious rioting at Vienna, Gatz, and Salzburg. Over 80 stor%s and food and clothingshops, as well a 3 restaurants in Vienna, were pillaged. The polico intervened, and many on both sides were injured. 'The garrison refused to march against tho strikers. The whole of Bohemia- is in a state of commotion. Soldiers fired on tho rioters aif Prague and Pilsen. The Neue Freie Press reports that a striko movement is general throughout Lower Austria and the Trieste Valley. All war industries in the neighbourhood of Vienna have been shut, and there are 10,000 on strike, while tho Wienerngustadt locor motive works and munition factories and the Roeth aeroplane works at Lichtenroeth, are closed. News from Austria shows that the strikes and demonstrations are strongly political in character. The food question, though grave, is only a secondary matter. AntiGerman feeling has become, intense sine? Hoffmann's annexationist declai-ations aft Bres't-Litovsk. The Russian propaganda is e/viidently working in Austria; the circulation of the Arboiter Zeitung has been prohibited outside the country. The latest iesue of this paper available states that the strikers have formed a permanent- committeo to deal with the situation. Reader, a Socialist deputy, declared that the people are being deceived over the peace negotiations. Strikes are general through Austria. One hundred thousand men are idle at Vionna.Noustax, a workers' delegate, informed General Stofer that 'tho movement is political and ecoomio, and especially aimed at peace. Demonstrators tried to wreck the offices of the Reichspost, which has always urged the vr&e against Serbia and con-' tributed to the incitement of a general war. The Hungarian Cabinet has resigned, apparently owing to the Crown's rejection ol the Premier's proposal to establish an independent Hungarian army. BULGARIAN PROPAGANDA. Renter's correspondent at Serbian Headquarters says 'that the Bulgars are unsuccessfully attempting to reDeat the enemy tactics employed on the Italian front, and to fraternise and sow dissension among the Serbians.by propaganda dropped from their aircraft. •Frequent deserters from the Bulgars env phasise the food shortage, high prices, and war weariness in Bulgaria. Austria recently offered the Serbians peace, promising the surrender of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an outlet to the Adriatic, thus repeating the offer made by Constantino of Greece in September, 1915, before the big invasion of Serbia. PEACE TALK. The United Press's Rome correspondent states that the Papal Nuncios at Vienna and Berlin have informed tho Pone that' there is no encouragement for peace proposals at present. Senator Lewis, speaking in Congress, said: "Wo have reason to know that Berlin will shortly make peace proposals to the Allies. We also have information that the Popo ia arranging another effort for peace." Tho German authorities have confiscated 'the last issue of Die Zukunfit for commenting on Mr Lloyd George's and President Wilson's speeches, and assorting that tho way to peace lay through Washington. Allied aeroplanes flew over large areas of Belgium and dropped copies of President Wilson's speech. Thousands were picked up in Liege. SOUTH AFRICA'S AID. Tho Union Parliament was opened on the 18th hist. The Governor-general's Speech said that certain proposals would be submitted in pursuance of a policy to render tho British Government all possible assistance in the prosecution of the war. In response to an urgent appeal to the Government to maintain the strength of the SoU|th African Overseas Brigade, a recruiting conference will ba held at Capetown this month. An agitation is gaining ground in favour of conscription, but in view of the attitude of a large proportion of the Dutch residents, the adoption of compulsion is extremely unlikely. A Capetown message states that General Botha has announced that for purely mill*

tary reasons no further native labour will be recruited for service .overseas.

. QUESTIONS OF NEUTRALITY. Britain has informed Switzerland that the Government desire to reaffirm the treaties and declarations of 1815, and to assuro the Swiss Government that, in conjunction with America and France, they will respect the integrity and neutrality of Switzerland as Jong as they are maintained by the Federal Government and respected by the enemies of Britain. •.,.'« ■> King Gustav of Sweden, in his Speech from the Throno, sincerely hoped that a free Finland would co-operate with the other Scandinavian countries in a common effort towards peace and progress. He announced the initiation of negotiations with Finland to settle the Aaland Islands questions. King Gustav added, referring to the difficulties of overseas trade, that negotiations ■were in progress for its resumption under conditions harmonising with Swedish independence and neutrality. The Aftonbladet (Stockholm) states that Sweden and the Allies have agreed that Sweden shall receive 100,000 tons of goods from America, conditional upon -tho rhipa returning to America for tho Allies' use; also that all Swedish ships in British ports pe placed at tho Allies' disposal. Norway is considering a similar arrangement. EXCHANGE- OF PRISONERS. In the House of Commons Mr Hope stated {hat an agreement had been reached with Turkey for the exchange of prisoners on an Axtensive scale, but it had not yet been jatifled. Ho could not give details, but ft was more satisfactory than he had expeoted. GENERAL NEWS. Lioutenant T. Handysido, of the Dublin Fusiliers (of Wanganui), has been killed m action. The War Offico announces that 606,000 men ,- n France havo been granted leave during the last four months. A Bill has been introduced increasing the daily allowance to French soldiers at tho front from one franc to three francs. Brisk recruiting for tho Women's Royal Naval Service has begun in London. The Jews of various nationalities in London are freely enrolling in tho Jewish Legion attached to tho Royal Fusiliers. Mr Bonar Law informed the House of Commons that tho Government had no intention of imposing a tax upon capital. Mr Bonar Law announced in the House of Commons that tho Petroleum Bill had been dropped because the necessary action could bo taken without special legislation. Mr Bonar Law stated in the House of Commons that the Government had decided not to publish for tho present the final report of the Dardanelles Commission, lmoaucs it would give Yaluabl© information to tho enemy. In tho House of Commons an amendment was moved, on the second reading of the Military Service Bill, to enforce compulsion in Ireland, It was rejected by 136 Votes to 48. Soventy New Jiealandera have been awarded Military Medals; and Military Crosses have been awarded to the following New Ze&Unders:—Lieutenants M. 0. Mime and K- J. Tait and Second Lieutenants 0. A. M'Kenzie and J. IT. Picot. In tho- Hotise of Commons Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, accepted an arnondmenfc to trw Non-fer-fcous MetaJa Bill restricting- Its operation

in the United Kingdom, and not affecting any business carried on entirely outside tho United Kingdom. Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, hero of the Ajethusa action, in August, 1914, has been - promoted to Rear-admiral. Five German warships were sunk. The brunt of the early stages of the fight was borne by the i British mosquito fleets which engaged heavier vessels and kept them fighting until tho British cruisers and battleships could ; come up. The "saucy Arethusa" played a | prominent part in tho engagement, and, I though sadly' battered, was so , skilfully ! 'manoeuvred that she came out of the | battle, and was able to reach a British port , under her own steam. GERMANY AND AUSTRALIA. The Sydney Morning Herald publishes an article from a German newspaper by Professor Burckbardt. who was present at the last Science Congress held in Australia. The article states: "When the Germans come to Australia they need not anticipate any difficulty from the young generation, who havo proved themselves arrant cowards. _ They would be put into gangs for making fortifioations for the German conquerors, and locked up in stockades at night." DOMINIONS CONFERENCE IN LONDON. Although recent rumours alleged that Mr Hughes (Prime Minister of Australia) proposed to visit England shortly, they are not credited in Ministerial circles. Mr Catts, during tho debate on the vote of censure, sta+pd that he understood that Mr Wade had cabled to Mr Holman, intimating that Mr Hughes would leave for England at an indefinite date. Ministerialists, however, aro satisfied that, in the cvenfc of another Dominions Conference in London, Mr Hughes or some other Minister will attend. RECRUITING IN AUSTRALIA. Recruiting has reached a very low ebb without any apparent move on the part of the Government to launch a now campaign.