THE CENTRAL POWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 17

THE CENTRAL POWERS.

A GRAVE SITUATION

THE RUMANIAN PEACE.

NEW GERMAN PROPAGANDA

(By Cable.)

The Hague correspondent of The Times states that the Crown Prince is involved in a dispute raging over the franchise. He telegraphed to Count Spee, congratulating him on his motion proposing to shelve the Reform Bill until after the war. The German press, discussing the incident, notes increased militarv interference in domestic and foreign policy. It is anticipated that von Hertlmg will be obliged to adopt some jugglery in order to delay the Reform Bill and gain time. The Vorwaerts says: " The spirit of freedom and the spirit of conquest are mutually exclusive. We cannot establish a military dictator in Ukrainia and adopt a democratic peace at home." The Bremer Burger Zeitung (Socialist) declares that a great wave of discontent is sweeping over the people, due to costly and resuJtless battles, the burden of expenditure, and the insolent rejection of equal suffrage. THE KAISER AGAIN. The Kaiser, replying to Baron von Hertling's congratulations on the conclusion of the Rumanian peace, attributed the final peace on the east front to God, German patriotism, brilliant military leadership, and strong diplomacy. The Kaiser concludes bis message by saying that God will similarly help Germany to victory in the west. The Kaiser meets the Emperor Karl at Austrian Headquarters. FOOD SCARCITY. Advices to the State Department, Washington, say that' Germany is con-' sidering a reduction of the meat rations from 2CO grammes to 150 grammes per week.

A telegram from Vienna says that Dr von Seidler (Austrian Premier) has admitted that Austria is unable to feed the population of the Northern Tyrol and of Northern Bohemia. The former has been attached to Bavaria, and the latter to Saxony, for provisioning purposes. This concession, wrung from her by the German parties in those districts, will accentuate the feud between the German and non-German races in Austria. _ The outbreak of mysterious and destructive fires continues in Germany. The last instances are the destruction of the Berlin municipal granary, containing 1000 tons of cereals, a-Lso the burning of 15,000 acres of forest at Ochtrup, in Westphalia, GERMAN EXPLOITATION. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent says that the German General Staff is making still greater demands upon Germany's allies. Large bodies of Austrian infantry have been brought to Germany for garrison and other duties, replacing Germans. A great weeding out of the civil population of Germany is going on, the recruits including many business men, owing to the losses of the last six weeks' offensive.

The German population of Austria are demanding administrative changes giving them an excessive influence over the machinery of government of Austria, which the Czechs already consider to be the chief obstacle to their demands for the political independence of Bohemia. Dr von Seidler. (Austrian Premier) is yielding to the Gorman demands, and this has infuriated the Czechs, who threaten to revolt.

It is reported that Dr von Seidler has ordered the prosecution of the organisers of a demonstration in Prague, capital of Bohemia, in favour of the creation of a Czech-Slovak State. This caused a great uproar in Prague, with the result that 100,000 Czechs have signed a declaration welcoming the prosecution and declaring their solidarity. The German press is urging that military action be taken against the Czechs. RISINGS IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. The internal conditions of Austria-Hun-gary are critical. There are many risings of revolutionary tendencies. The Government, after declaring that there are no risings, and that the country is calm, has issued a manifesto justifying extreme measures for their repression. The Jugo-Slav movement in AustriaHungary has become a definite revolt. The leaders include the Archbishops of Laiback and Serajevo. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent cays that the German papers declare that Austria is heading for disaster owing to the Southern Slav menace. Austria's latest proposal is to separate Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Da-lmatia from Austria and add them to Hungary, in order to compensate Hungary in view of the Austrian settlement of the Polish question, by which Austria-Hungary has become a triple monarchy instead of a dual monarchy. A mutiny in the Austro-Hungarian fleet wa3 suppressed with difficulty. The High Command has been changed. POLITICAL CRISIS. The situation both in Austria and Hungary is perilous. The German papers predict the resignation of the Austrian Premier (Dr von Seidler), who is faced by almost insuperable difficulties in connection with the Southern Slav agitation and other racial problems. Von Zonller. a Slav Minister, has resigned, owing to the threatened resumption of aggressive measures against the Slavs.

As regards Hungary, the announcement is made that Wekerle (the. new Premier), while apparently granting universal. suf-

j frage, insists that every voter must bo ! master of the Hungarian language. This effectively bars masses of the Slavs from the franchise. The Manchester Guardian says that che j closing of the Austrian Parliament creates ja grave situation in Austria. It is.bej lieved that Germany is dictating this re- | newal of the policy of governing without i Parliament. The "working classes of all j the oppressed nationalities in Austria oppose the step, j Diplomatic advices state that three members of the Austrian Cabinet—Herr Lovardowski, Count Silva-Tarouca, and Dr Zogler,—all without portfolios, have resigned.

M. Wekerle has formed a new Hungarian Cabinet. The Manchester Guardian says that the closing of the Austrian Parliament creates a grave situation in Austria. It is believed that Germany is dictating this renewal of the policy of governing without Parliament. The working classes of all the oppressed nationalities in Austria oppose the step.

| RUMANIAN PEACE TREATY

AT THE MERCY OF THE HUNS

Rumania has signed a peace treaty with the Central Powers.

Tlie peace treaty with Rumania comprises eight charters. The first deals with the re-establishment of peace and friendship; the second with the re-establish-ment of diplomatic relations; and the third with Rumanian demobilisation, which provides, inter alia, for the continued existence of the Rumanian Military Bureau supreme authorities, and military institutions, but otherwise for complete demobilisation, except the two divisions in Bessarabia, which are to remain there till all danger from AustroGerman operations in Ukrainia ceases. The peace treaty provides that all guns and war material shall be held by the Central Powers until a general peace has been declared, and be guarded by Rumanian troops under the supervision of the Central Powers. The chief commander of a commission, composed of representatives of the Central Powers, will demarcate the new frontier. Rumania will cede to the allied Powers interested that portion of the Dobrudja between the confluence of the Danube with the Black Sea to St. George's branch, on the river Danube. The frontier between the territory ceded to the allied Powers and Rumania will be formed by the river valley. The allied Powers undertake to assure Rumania of a trade route to the Black Sea via. Cernadova and Constanza.

Rumania agrees that her frontiers shall be rectified in favour of Austria-Hungary. The State property in the ceded regions Rumania passes without indemnification to the acquiring States. The evacuation of the occupied Rumanian territory is to be effected at a time to be decided later. The strength of the occupying armies, apart from troops employed in economic management, must not exceed six divisions. The railway, post, and telegraphic services for the present will remain under militar}' administration. The Rumanian courts will resume- their jurisdiction, but the allied Powers retain jurisdiction over the police and supervision over the occupying troops. The occupying army mav requisition corn, fodder, wool, cattle, " timber, oil, and oil products, always with a proper regard for the orderly plan for securing these commodities and satisfying the needs of the Rumanian population. Provision will be made for refunding" the money spent by the allied Powers on public works, including industrial undertakings. Prom the time of ratification of the peace treaty onwards Rumania will pay for the maintenance of the army of occupation. The treaty provides that 'a committee representing the riparian States shall control the Danube below Braila. Rumania guarantees free traffic on the Danube to all the States. Rumania also permits warships to sail down stream to the sea, and up stream to the frontier of the State concerned.

British newspapers are of opinion that Rumania is being virtually enslaved by the German peace terms, particularly by Hungary's seizure of the passes of the Carpathians; by German hold upon the Danube; and by the stationing of six German divisions in Rumania, at Rumania's expense, in order to secure the Rumanian corn, fodder, wool, cattle, and oil for the Central Powers.

An inspired communication from Vienna points out that Austria is to receive '6'JO square kilometres (231 square miles) south of Czernowitz, while Hungary is to receive £OOO square kilometres of mountain land, as war damages. Austria-Hungary primarily relies on the Rumanian destruction wrought in their army's early invasion of Transylvania for justification for this annexation. Official despatches from Berlin say the terms of the Bucharest peace give Germany control of Rumanian petroleum for the duration of the war and after. The Rumanian Government, in a proclamation, announces the conclusion of peace, and that the country re-enters a state of neutrality. It can now work at removing the scars of war by consolidating its internal position. THE KAISER'S JOY. The Kaiser has telegraphed Hindenburg declaring that the peace with Rumania fills him with pride and joy, and that he is ordering the commemoration of the battle of Tenneberg, which saved East Prussia. THE QUEEN OF RUMANIA. The German papers state that the Queen of Rumania has announced that she refuses to recognise the peace, and prefers abdication to reigning in a German-ruled country. , Queen Marie's children share her. views, and never lose an opportunity of insulting the Germans.. ; [The Queen of Rumania is a, daughter of the late- Duke

of Edinburgh, and married King Ferdinand of Rumania in 1893.]

BULGARIA'S REWARD. A Vienna telegram states that, in exchange for territorial acquisitions in the Dobrudja, Bulgaria will recognise and con-, liolidate all her floating debts in Germany; for army supplies. The Bulgarian Sobranje (Parliament) will be asked to vote one and a-half milliard of marks, and issue a 4£ per cent. Joan for that amount. A Gerinan-Bulgar company will exploit Constanza Harbour, also the ConstanzaCernavoda railway line. GERMAN PROPAGANDA. TRIED ON AUSTRALIANS. The Berliner Tageblatt, having failed to set the British against the French, hae commenced a campaign to set the overseas troops against the British. It says: "The Australians are disheartened and 6ick of, the whole war, because what they had gained by months of effort the British, have lost in a few hours. The Aus-t tralians now admit that a British victory is impossible, and boasting of British invincibility is a thing of the past. French regiment*! had to stiffen the British front like the bones of a corset. As the British sacrificed their colonial troops, so they sacrificed the Portuguese." Other German papers, discussing the coming in of America, admit that more United States troops are being transported than was expected, but, though America is a tough enemy, she will be too late. A leading Australian authority in London points out the significance of the German propaganda. He saya that the effort to take the sting out of the Australian and other do-. minion forces only shows the enemy's strong dislike to these fiery fighters. It is noteworthy that the Germans avoided the Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian sectors for their great offensives. The Australians have entirely disregarded the propagandist German newspapers sent over No Man's Land by small balloons, and they will likewise disregard this latest malignant newspaper campaign. The Australians have had an inspiring part in the recent defensive operations, says the authority quoted, and never before have they had such an opportunity for killing Germans. The whole Australian force has been trained to welcome such massed attacks, in which the enemy's losses are stupendous. So far from admitting victory to be impossible, the Australians realise that these futile German thrusts have already brought the end nearer, heralding the complete overthrow of the German armies. Although a certain amount of sentiment is attached to the lost ground, the Australians have no regrets, knowing that it does not matter where the final battle is fought, provided that the opponents of Democracy and Liberty are robbed of their greed of "power for all time. This being the Australians' first hope, they are determined unswervingly to meet every successive attack until the Germans admit that they are defeated. CIRCULATED IN SPAIN. The State Department of the United States has issued a copy of a document circulated in Spain by a German propagandist, which, the State Department says, is of undoubted German origin. The document says : —• " The Germans have taken'incalculable booty in France and Belgium as a result of the stupid stubbornness of the Belgian people in continuing the struggle after defeat. Fines totalling 120,071,000 piastres have been imposed on wealthy individuals and cities, this figure including 15,000 piastres in fines imposed on Alsatian children who insisted on speaking French. More than 50,000 British prisoners have been taken as against 124,806 Germans taken by the British; but it must be remembered that the British treat prisoners with notable kindness, while Germans treat British prisoners with extreme rigour, so that the Germans have secured the superior moral effect. Several thousand British prisoners have died through disease and scanty food, and others.from accidents. If any neutrals are contemplating taking the side of the Allies they had best take warning." The statements were, circulated before the German offensive of March 21. The document says that Germany will not lose her African colonies, as British Ministers have declared that Britain did not intend to increase the holdings of the British Empire. •