THE CENTRAL POWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 18

THE CENTRAL POWERS.

THE STRIKES SUPPRESSED. SERIOUS POSITION AS REGARDS FOOD. (By Cable.) The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent, cabling on Sunday evening, says: '' The severity of the German censorship prevents readers of their newspapers from gaining a precise idea of the course of the German strikes. / " The general impression is that the strike is dying down everywhere. Apparently the Hamburg strikers are largely resuming work under the threat of forced military service. Reports from other centres, notably Bremen, also indicate a resumption of work. The authorities have placed many of the Berlin war factories under military control. "Monday will probably be the decisive day, in view of the summary order to resume work under the threat of courtmartial ; but the strike at present seems to be doomed." A semi-official report from Berlin states that it is nearly certain that the strikes will end. This result is greatly due to the recall of soldiers on leave, who, it is believed, fomented the strike. The Government has refused the Social Democrats' demand for an immediate convocation of the Reichstag. Machine guns have been posted in industrial centres. Some newspapers attribute the strike to the influence of British agents. The arrest of many undesirables during the demonstrations effectually quelled the disorders. Wolff's Agency admits that 270,000 Berlin strikers have not resumed work, although the Government continues intimidation and punishments. A court-martial has been sitting daily at Berlin since the proclamation of the extreme form of martial trial. One hundred and eighteen strikers have been tried and all found guilty. Sentences ranging from a month to three years have been imposed. The right of holding public meetings has been restored in Germany. A SOCIALIST SENTENCED. A telegram from Berlin states that Herr Dittmann has been sentenced to five years' confinement in a fortress for high treason, also to two months' imprisonment for resisting the authorities. Four German newspapers, including the Deutsche Zeitung, Irave been suppressed for reporting details of the Dittmann case. According to that paper, Herr Dittmann, in his defence, said that the strike was a spontaneous reaction against martial law and the Pan-German propaganda; also it was a movement in favour of securing peace by understanding. s OPPOSING PRUSSIANISM.

The King of Bavaria is visiting German Headquarters. A semi-official statement has been published which attributes political importance to hie visit, and adds that the King will speak in a conciliatory manner, but at the same time will make it clear that South Germany repudiates the Pan-German war aims. In the Bavarian Diet, the Socialist leader (Herr Spetz) declared that Prussianism had become Germany's peril. Germany had 1,300,000 soldiers killed, and an equal number incapacitated, in the war. Bavaria lacked coal, food, and clothing, yet Prussianism pursued its relentless conquests. A similar anti-Prussian feeling was shown in the Baden Parliament. Clerical, Liberal, and Socialist deputies protested against the Prussian commanders' treatment of Baden soldiers, and demanded a revision of the 1871 treaty. FABLES FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. A significant German communique, intended to cheer the war-weary German populace, gives an amaaing account of strikes, leading to riots, which it alleges occurred in England throughout January. There is in these statements no shadow of truth. The communique states that "hardly a day passed without crowds in the towns coming into conflict with the police. A riot in London on January 17 was typical of affairs generally in England. A crowd fought and worsted the police, putting the latter to flight. A detachment of Scottish recruits' was summoned from, the barracks at Shepherd's Bush, and ordered to fire on the rioters in Oxford street, but the majority of them refused to fire, and 80 of the Scottish recruits were arresied All the windows in Selfridge's Emporium were broken. Other tumults occurred in the evening in Threadneedle street." MAKING PEACE WITH RUMANIA' Apparently the Central Powers are about to make desperate efforts to conclude peace with Rumania. The Berliner Boersen." Zeitung indicates that the Berlin conferences resulted in a complete agreement regarding the peace terms offered by Rumania. The Essen Allgemeine Zeitung emphasises 'chat the Rumanians must renounce all claims to extension westward, and can be compensated for the Bulgarian annexation of the Dobrudja with the south-west corner of Bessarabia, concerning which the Ukrainians and the Rumanians can come to terms, provided both unite against the Bolsheviks. Germany has demanded that Rumania shall negotiate a peace with the Central Empires within four days. The Rumanian Cabinet has resigned. Reuter's Agency has obtained confirmation of the statement that, as the result of tho German ultimatum, which was communicated to Rumania on the sth inst., the Cabinet resigned on the Bth. The ultimatum expired on the 9th, hut developments have not transpired.

DESPERATE POSITIONS IN GERMANY. Mr Simonds, the United Amorican. Press correspondent, points out Germany's desperate economic straits. High German officers offered to sell military secrets, and when questioned as to their motive, broke down and wept. They replied that they needed food for their starving mothers and fathers. Caterpillars have destroyed the entire cabbage crops. Dogs have practically disappeared, and even crows are a rare delicacy. Cracow has been swept with famine, and owing to the shortage of clothing corpses are buried in paper shrouds and pasteboard coffins. American fugitives relate that the Germans no longer expect victory, but hope that the Allies will be exhausted before Germany is brought to her knees. Mr Simonds adds: "I learn from reliable sources that the Kaiser declared that President Wilson's terms were reasonable enough as the basis of negotiations, but he had not pressed that view against von Hindenburg and von Ludendorff, who were the Kaiser's absolute masters." EXPLOSION AT PRAGUE. A munition depot near Prague has been blown up, it is believed intentionally. Many lives were lost, and great material damage was done. HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT. Count Andrassy, addressing the Hungarian Parliament, denounced the idea of peace at any price. "We must finish with victory," he declared. " Our enemies are agitating with. such, catch words as the ' dismemberment of the Dual Monarchy' j but Hungary has not responded to this lure, though I cannot say the same for Austria." Andrassy declared that the Central Powers must use every means to combat the_ proposal for the self-determination by nations of their own destinies. THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY. The Austrian Cabinet has resigned. The resignation is due to the Polish Party's refusal to grant supplies because the Government refused-a formal declaration regarding Poland's future. The Emperor refused to accept the resignation of the Austrian Cabinet. A RUPTURE THREATENED. Owing to the shortage of leather the Austrian army boots are of such poor quality that 20,000 Austrians had to be withdrawn from the Italian front in January suffering from frozen feet. Negotiations between Germany and Austria-Hungary regarding the division of the Rumanian maize crop are thi-eatened with rupture, the Austrians declaring that Germany has a fair potato crop, enabling her population to live until the grain harvest is ready, whereas Austria has nothing. It is predicted that there will be serious trouble in Vienna unless Austria gets the maize, which the Government has virtually promised to the population. BAD STATE OF AFFAIRS EN AUSTRIA. William Simons, the Un ; ted American Press correspondent in Paris, after a thorough and lengthy investigation of the actual conditions in the Central Empires, cables from JJurich that _ ominous unrest is growing in Austria.. He says the German people must have peace or go-under. If* the Allies maintain a stonewall on the west front the end of the war will be in sight. The German .people are angry because of the privations at home and losses at the front. They believe that President Wilson is sincere. I learn from the most dependable sources that the domestic conditions in both countries are appalling. The United Press correspondent at Paris, cabling further the results of investigation of actual conditions in the Central Empires, states that Austria is threatened with disruption, dismemberment, and revolution. Disease is rampant, and the death rate is mounting alarmingly. The deaths from consumption alone exceed the birth rate, and there were 120,000 deaths from that disease in Austria in 1317. A strange malady, known as "bread disease," is claiming multitudes of victims. The rich continue to live well by means of bribery, paying stupendous prices; but the masses are suffering horribly. A wave of crime is sweeping over the country, and daylight robberies are rife. Ninety per cent, of the people are really opposed to the plutocratic war party. Von Hindenburg's planned offensive on the v west front is positively Germany's last card. The Maximalist movement in Austria is rampant, and is still growing, and causing the Monarchists to become Austrian Maximalist prisoners, headed Dy Otto Bauer, who recently returned from Russia, are spreading unrest and discon- ■ tent among the Czechs and young Slavs, who are demanding immediate peace. Von Hindenburg realises that he must end the war soon, or Austria will fall to pieces.