THE CENTRAL POWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 16

THE CENTRAL POWERS.

GERMAN INTERNAL AFFAIRS. Official advices state that the Kaiser has convoked an important council of the reign-' ing families of Germany. No details are available. The German war prftss is beginning an inspired campaign in order to prepare the public for fresh sacrifices on the western front. The army command is evidently fearful of the depressing effect the coming operations may have upon the country, and particularly stress i the argument that the enemy bear the guilt of the terrible things which will resultfrom 'the refusal to enter into peace negotiations. The Vossische Zeitung says: "A most monstrous and terrible thing is awaiting tne Continent. Never in history' will the memory of this terrible February be effaced. We stand before the tragic alternatives of victory or..decline. ' Our best blood must flow. Bitterness and pain will enter German homes, but we are sure of victory." In the Reichstag the Progressives, Liberals, Socialists, and Centre party requested that the 1869-70 classes be sent home, and also Landsturmers - who served 1 since-the outbreak of the war. The Socialists denounced .the calling up of cripples, adding that men were called up for political reasons despite their unfitness. They declared that much resentment that officers were getting good food and the men were given putrid nw-at. If this system was not stopped the masses would burst the bonds of slavery. Advices from Stettin (Prussia) state that the secretary o.f the local Socialist League has been eourt-martialled and sentenced to five years' _ imprisonment for attempted treason during the strike. AFFAIRS'IN AUSTRIA. A Vienna message states that the political crisis continues. The Austrian Government has delivered an ultimatum to the Socialists to pass the Budget within 48 hours, or the session will be suspended by Imperial decree. Many serious strikes are reported in Galicia. Eighty million kronen worth of foodwithheld from rationing has been found concealed in various warehouses in Budapest. Absolutely dependable reports show that there is a terrible famine in Trieste. x'he Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Express states that the Vienna Government has announced a change of policy and is sanctioning Austro-Hungarian military intervention in Ukrainia. This change was due to a demand from the burgomaster of Vienna, who pleaded that Vienna is starving, and that its only hope of bread was i:eace with Ukrainia. ' The correspondent now hears that German troops are entering Ukrainia to seize .the food. * The Austrians are therefore going to prevent the Germans from securing the food which Austria considers hers. The Austro-Hungarian Government announces that, acceding to Ukrainia's request, it is despatching troops to Ukrainia against the Bolsheviks, who are destroying cereals which Ukrainia has promised to the Central. Powers. Austrian prisoners from Russia are returning _ across East Galicia at the rate of 5000 daily, being drafted to garrison corps after a brief quarantine. BULGARIA'S DEMANDS. A message from Sofia, says that the Foreign Minister in the Bulgarian iSobranje is asking for a war credit of 1,000,000,000 francs. He said he did not anticipate that the loan would be borne by Bulgaria. This confirms telegrams that Bulgaria is demanding from Rumania, in addition to the cession of the. Dobrudja, big economic concessions, and a war indemnity of a milliard francs in gold GERMAN SPY SYSTEM. Adolf Friedmann, a German resident in Zurich, openly declares that, every German in neutral countries, including Switzerland, is required by the German. Government to work as a spy or a propagandist. He adds that all the Germans in Switzerland have fulfilled this obligation very loyally and patriotically. Swiss newspapers indignantly rejoin that Friedmann's candid statement shows the formidable scope of the German espionage and propagandist organisation, inasmuch as

approximately there are 40,000 Germans ai large throughout Switzerland. PEACE WITH RUMANIA. A BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION. Austrian reports state that the Rumanians at the peace negotiations are claiming three Bessarabian districts lost by he Peace of Berlin. The Hungarians are strenuously claiming that the security of their Transylvanian border must be provided, but von Kuhlmann and Count Czernin are determined that the prospects of peace with Rumania shall not be prejudiced by outrageous Hungarian claims. The Petit Parisien states that the first meeting of Count Czernin and von Kuhlmann with General Averescu was stormy* Czernin adopted an aggressive attitude, reviving personal bitterness regarding the Rumanians. The meeting broke up without any tangible result. -- The German annexationists are planning to occupy Snake Island, in the Black (Sea, and convert it into a second and limit Rumanian control to Bessarabia. It is semi-officially* reported from Bucharest that Rumania has adopted- the basis of negotiations proposed by the Central Powers, and will send representatives to discuss the conclusion of peace. Vienna officially reports that negotiations with Rumania are proceeding favourably. German official: Peace was signed at 5 o'clock on the evening of March 3. GENERAL ITEMS. '/■ Mr Daniels announces that the navy tug Cherokee foundered in American waters. It is believed that 30 men have perished. The bodies of 17 of the officers of the Turkish (formerly German) cruiser Breslau, forced into a minefield by British vessels, when she emergfid from the Dardanelles with the Goeben, have been washed ashore at Mount Athene. Admiral Jellicoe has selected as his title Viscount Jellicoe of Scafa. The House of Commons voted 5,000,000 men for the home and colonial establishment, including the air force, and excluding those serving in India. The Rumanian Minister in Britain has departed to Rumania. The press reports that be is to become Foreign Minister.^ The Press Bureau reports that Sir Albert Stanley , (President of the Board of Trade) has appointed a committee, including Lord C'olwyn (chairman), Mr Andrew Fisher, ana Sir Thomas Mackenzie, to investigate the prospects of increasing the supply of flax in the Empire. Lazarri, secretary to the Italian Socialist party, has been sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment and fined 3500 lire for pending out anti-war circulars. Bombacci, hk accomplice, was sentenced to two years. The Serbian Parliament has reassembled at Corfu ; _ The Government resigned owing to opposition to' its nominee for the office of Parliamentary President. In the House of Commons the Speaker read a message from his Majesty, paying a tribute to_ 'General Maude's services in Mesopotamia, and recommending the House of Commons as a recognition thereof to grant Lady Maude £25,000. The proposal was loudly applauded, and the vote js to be moved on ' Monday, The Public Accountant, after investigat;on. st/<tfi= that Senator Humbert (France) had 489,000d01. deposited in a Now York bank. Humbert's present balance at the bank was about 370.000d01. In the House of- Commons Mr Bonar Law denied that Germany had officially suggested the giving up or poison gas. He added that such a suggestion might merely be a blind. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. Mr Hughes's recruiting policy provides that enlisted men, after a short period in - camp, are to be given leave on pay to canvass for recruits in their home localities. _ A bonus of 10s will be paid to recruiting sergeants for each recruit actually enlisted. A special magistrate is to be appointed to inquire into cases of persons of enemy birth in the Commonwealth employ. The Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Society has subscribed £2,000,000 to the war loan. A strike at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory has rendered 1000 employees idle; The Methodist Conference adopted a motion requiring all candidates for the ministry who are of military age to show that they have offered their military services, or to give sufficient reason for their exemption. As a result of objections by recruiting bodies the Government has decided to pay % the 10s for each recruit secured * into the funds of the Recruiting Committee, instead of to the recruiting sergeant, as was origmally proposed. New regulations provide for the training of soldiers' widows at the Commonwealth's expense to enable them to supplement their pensions in their own homes. Mr Hughes has announced that no compulsion will be used to force eligibles to submit their names in the new recruiting ballot. REJECTED AUSTRALIANS. Out of 49,754 members of the Expeditionary Forces who had returned to the Commonwealth up to December 31 there were 10,333 who saw no service, as they failed to pass the _ standard set by the medical authorities in England, and were sent back as unfit. The Minister of Defence is perplexed at this result of the complication of opinions as to the medical standard. On the grounds of the cost of sending the men and the effect on recruiting, this condition of -affairs cannot be allowed to continue, and _ the Minister has approved sending the Director-general of Medical Services, who will be assisted by other experts, to England and France to make full investigation.