AUSTRIA'S BAD PLIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 18

AUSTRIA'S BAD PLIGHT.

STRIKES' AND RIOTS PREVALENT. President Wilson's latest Message is said to have creajed wide spread demands in Austria for a democratic peace, and the spreading of industrial chaos is also a strong factor. A general strike in AustriaHungary originated .in a reduction of the bread ration. The Arbiter Zeitung denounced the reduction, and at the same time declared that the privileged classes were tolerably well provided for, whereas millions were unable to get bread and the authorities did not care. This paper urged the workers of Vienna to demonstrate, and the response exceeded expectations. Many railway and State workers struck, and the populace joined in, and the shops in the central part of. Vienna were attacked by crowds demanding bread. V The town council hastily met, and sent a message to the Government protesting against the reduction of the bread ration. The strike extended to the munition works at Neustadt, which were entirely closed. Violent encounters occurred between the police and the strikers, but the authorities were afraid to employ the military. Many encounters took place at Cracow (Galicia), where the archbishop headed a procession to the Governor's palace. The demonstrations 'continued during the week-end with huge processions of strikers, munition workers, women, and children. The agitation then became political in character in favour of peace. A Socialist deputation approached the Governor and received an assurance that peace negotiations were being expedited. A general strike began at Budapest on Friday, 18th inst., and it was estimated that "there were 1,200,000 strikers in Austria. The Austrian strikers demanded — Firstly, that the Brest-Litovsk negotiations shall lead to an immediate, general, and democratic peace. Secondly, an immediate improvement in food conditions. Thirdly, the introduction of democratic reforms. Fourthly, the abolition of the military control of industries. The strikes reached their height in Vienna at midday on Thursday, 17th inst., when 300,000 workers were idle. The police stopped the strike processions, and this resulted in rioting, necessitating the closing of shops. A marked feature of the demonstrations was hostility to Germany. Demonstrators in Vienna and Gratz repeatedly cried : "Down with Prussian Militarism! Long live the Russian Revolution and Universal Peace!" Precautions were adopted in Vienna to keep the demonstrators away from the vicinity of the German Embassy. The Council of Ministers recognises that it is impossible to solve the civil popular tion's food problem without lowering the army's efficiency. The strikers are said by one correspondent to have behaved in fashion, and avoided disorder. Absolutely necessary work in connection with traffic was continued, and perfect discipline maintained. Eight thousand strike leaders have met at Vienna to formulate.plans. Violent collisions have taken place between the strikers and the police, especially in Ringplatz and Opernplatz. There is much looting of food stores, and many ax-rests have been made. Anti-German bitnerness is growing. THE GOVERNMENT BACK . DOWN. Count Czernin, Prime Minister of the Dual Monarchy, has realised that it is advisable for him to emphasise in the most direct terms that the Government of the Dual Monarchy stand by a policy of peace without annexations, and has swiftly capitulated to Labour's demands, including women's suffrage. Seldom has any Government climbed down to such an extent. The policy of the proletariat may be summed up hi three words : Peace, Bread, and •Freedom; and the greatest of these is Peace. No doubt the recent speeches of Mr Lloyd George and President Wilson produced a great effect in Austria. Workers' deputations repeatedly told Ministers that the proletariat regarded these two utterances as outlining the basis on which a ferseral peace should be discussed. Dr von Seidler's (Austrian Premier since June 24) speech to the Labour leaders was remarkably conciliatory in tone. He declared that the Government continued to aim at a speedy general peace, and that the Entente would be to blame if only a separate peace with Russia were immediately secured. Ho disclaimed all aims of conquest. Other representatives of the Government promised food reforms, the extension ana organisation of municipal suffrage, and votes for woman.

The workers then withdrew and decided in favour of the resumption of work. , The Emperor Charles refused to accept the resignations of von Seidler (Austrian Premier), and Count Wekell's (Hungarian Premier),' commanding them to retain their Ministries and accede to the popular demands regarding food, the extension of communal franchise, women's suffrage, and civil control of industry. Herr Seidler further announced that his Government aimed at a speedy general peace without annexations, permitting Poland to settle her own relationships with Austria. A new Hungarian Cabinet has been formed, with M. Wekerle as Premier. A Budapest telegram states that the King has sanctioned the new Governments programme, comprising the formation of a national Hungarian army and the drawing xip of a new 'Austro-Hungarian commercial treaty. PARTIAL RESUMPTION OF WORK. Vienna telegrams state that in consequence of the Austro-Hungarian Government's promise to speed up an honourable general peace and to improve food conditions and grant a democratic suffrage the Austrian strike leaders have recommended an immediate resumption of work; but the workers are disregarding their leaders' advice, and the strikes are extending. The Daily News correspondent at Geneva reports that strikes in Bohemia and Croatia continue, but that elsewhere work generally has been resumed. It is becoming hourly more apparent that the • workers have gained a remarkable triumph. The Government restored order only by capitulating to the strikers. . • If the Brest-Litovsk negotiations result in a Russian peace the Austrian workers will remain quiet. Failure of the negotiations will lead to events of tremendous importance. Berlin realises that a breakdown of the negotiations will mean an Austrian defection. There' was a remarkable procession of 10,000 women in Vienna, carrying peace banners, oh Monday, 21st inst. Violent anti-German speeches were made at 14 great peace meetings the same night. TPIE STRIKES ' SPREADING. Latest reports from Vienna describe the situation as one of increasing seriousness, and indicate that the workers are disregarding their leaders' advice. Austria-Hungary is fast hurrying to a crisis. Large masses of the population are in a state of incipient revolt against Germain domination. They believe that the dictation of the German annexationists at Brest-Litovsk is defeating the chances of peace. Many of the shoos in Vienna are barricaded for fear of pillage. The workers assembled in thousands in the main streets, and' formed masses across the train lines, stopping the traffic. The authorities are urgently calling for increased food from Hungary, and are also hoping that supplies will arrive in March from the Ukraine (Soutb-w'est Russia) if the waterways are free. Meanwhile Germany has been asked to send meal, but apparently is unable.to do it. The situation at Budapest is serious. Industry is almost at a Standstill ; shops are closed and tramways stopped. Collisions between the police and the crowds at Vienna and Cracow continue. No newspapers have been permitted to leave Austria since January 18. The Vienna Arbiter Zeitung, in the course of a remarkable article, said : The patience of the tortured masses is at an end, and they are unable to endure any longer. Not only the workers, but millions of peasants, officials, and people of the professional classes demand peace. The strikers are now translating their hitherto powerless wish into definite action." It is strange that the Austrian Censor allowed the articles to be published. .The German portions of Austria are reported Mo be comparatively calm, but Bohemia is in' a state of ferment. A demonstration at the Prague Opera House on Sunday led to grave riots. A general, strike began at Prague on Monday, 21st. 'inst. One hundred thousand people are on strike in Prague. The Socialist split in Vienna was owing to the moderate leaders advising a resumption of work. Forty per cent, of the Austro-German strikers have not yet' resumed work. The strikes continue in many industrial centres in Bohemia. It is reported that there has been a renewal of strikes in Vienna. The Austrian workers demand peace, an eight-hour day, and a stoppage of all war industries. Several speakers prolonged the meeting of workers at Vienna, representing that the strikes in Austria were only the preliminary skirmish of great Labour struggles. The censor suppressed the strongest statements. News from the Austrian front reveals an increasing lack of discipline and widespread fraternising. Officers were defied by the soldiers, who demanded peace. It is reported that the discontent is spreading to the German fronts. NEWS VIA RUSSIA. A United Press Petrograd telegram states that the Bolshevik Government there announced that it has received wireless information that a revohition has broken out in Vienna, and that the revolutionists have reorganised the Ministry. No details ore available. ' The Bolshevik newspapers state that great demonstrations have occurred over the whole of Austria-Hungary. Soviet organisations have been formed in Vienna and Budapest, and a big strike has begun at Warsaw. The Berliner Tageblatt states that the general strike at Budapest commenced on the morning of Friday, January 18. Bosnian soldiers, armed with machine guns, surrounded the inner city, and occupied in strength all the bridges across the Danube. The strikers are massed in the

outer portions of the Hungarian capital, and are not allowed to enter the inner city. Street traffic is entirely suspended, and the shops are closed. Thirty members of the Labourers, Soldiers, and Students' Union were arrested before the strike.