THE CENTRAL POWERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 15

THE CENTRAL POWERS

(By Cable.) PAN-GERMANISM. The Pan-German Association, in a violent declaration, denounces the republican regime, and demands the return of AlsaceLorraine, the German- colonies, and Poland, all of which, they declare, are thoroughly German, and essential to Germany's trade. The German Foreign Office has decided to act in reference to the armistice only on the basis of President Wilson's 14 points. THE DANTZIG QUESTION SETTLED. Marshall Foch notified Germany to send plenary delegates to Spa on April 3 to give their decision regarding Dantzig within 48 hours. The Allies emphasised the point that they do not wish to occupy Dantzig, but merely want the right of -passage through. The . Supreme Council has instructed Marshal Foch to prepare for the landing of Polish troops at Dantzig—by force il necessary. Herr Erzberger had a 40 minutes' interview with Marshal Foch at Spa. He quitted the train looking deeply affected. Marshal Foch announces the formal German acceptance of the Dantzig terms. Marshal Foch insisted on landing some troops at Dantzig, but said the majority would go through other ports, including Stettin and Konigsberg. The agreement reached at Spa provides that General Haller's troops shall cross Germany at the rate of 10 trains .daily. The German papers express satisfaction at the arrangement concerning the movements of Polish troops, and hope that their transfer will be effected as soon as possible. REACTIONARY AGITATION. Mr Tower writes:' The alleged Hungarian alliance with the Bolshevists has resulted in an immediate reactionary agitation in Berlin. Numerous meetings of protest aaginst the neace terms and the cession of territory have been held. These were engineered by former well-known militarists, who appeared like mushrooms. The National Union of German Officers paraded the streets with the Imperial colours flying and bands playing "the Kaiser Hymn". The parade halted at Bismarck's statue and swore a ceremonial oath of allegiance to hold the frontiers he founded. Simultaneously Ludendorff appeared. The crowds cheered, and then swarmed round the statue, joined by a band playing the National Hymn, concluding with the chant " Lord Make Us Free." Herr Schoffer, Finance Minister, addressed the gathering, swearing dramatically that the Government would not surrender an inch of territory either in the east or the west. STRIKES AND SPARTACTST ACTIVITY. The situation in Berlin is critical. Another general strike and a Sparjtacist outbreak are expected. There have been riots in sevex'al industrial towns, owing to the arrest of Spartacists for inciting to a general strike. ,£?The agitation is very acute in Bavaria. The Daily Herald's Berlin correspondent says the situation in Geramny is most serious, and that the whole economic life of the country may be paralysed. The Guards sent to protect the Ruhr mines are in many cases acting as pickets. There are movements of a political character, with a dictatorship by the proletariat. Communist propaganda work is energetically proceeding. A conference of labourers in the Ruhr district decided on a general strike throughout Rhineland and Westphalia unless a six-hour day and 45 per cent, increase in wages are granted. The miners on strike in the Ruhr district telegraphed to the Hungarian Government promising to use every means to establish a German Soviet republic. General strike riots in Berlin are spreading to the provinces. The military have been - called out, and there has been much fighting and bloodshed. Strikes are increasingly prevalent in Rhenish Westphalia. Martial law has been proclaimed over a wide area, including Stuttgart. There was some bloodshed during food riots at Frankfort. The German Government has forbidden the distribution of Allied food to strikers.

The strike movement is growing in Frankfort and Stuttgart. Serious fighting occurred in Stuttgart, tlie Government troops using maohine-guns and armoured cars. Eleven people were killed in Frankfort and 25 injured. There were 400 arrests made.

The Ruhr district strikes continue to spread. There is much sabotage and chaos throughout Western Germany. Several hundred deaths have occurred owing to a typhus epidemic in Baden due to the food conditions.

It is reported that order has been restored at Frankfort.

Eleven people were killed and many wounded in the Frankfort riots. Strikes are spreading throughout Germany. Two million one hundred and fifty thousand metal workers in Berlin have joined the strikers, and the streets are crowded with idle workers. Government troops are patrolling 'the thoroughfares, and buildings bristle with machine-guns, while several tanks are in the main streets.

It is reported that the German Government expresses its willingness to institute a working day of seven hours and a-half. The Empress Augusta Regiment has timied Bolshevist. The authorities have surrounded the barracks, and have disarmed the troops. Government troops surrounded and occupied the barracks, and disarmed a regiment showing Spartacist tendencies. It is rumoured that a military revolt has broken oui in Berlin. Herr Noske is

acting drastically, and malting many arrests.

The New York Tribune's correspondent at Goblenz states that a well-defined Spartacist plot to seize the American arms stored at Coblenz was frustrated by the military police, and nearly a score of the leaders of the plot were arrested. i A STATE TRIBUNAL. Advices from Berlin confirm the report that the Government intends to propose to the National Assembly the establishment of a State tribunal to try all those desiring trial in connection with the war. including von Bethmann-Hollweg and Ludendorff. THE EX-KAISER'S FLIGHT. Berlin advices state that the Deutsche Zeitung publishes an autograph letter from the ex-Kaiser to the Crown Prince, dated November 9. It begins! "My dear boy, after the Court Chamberlain advised that he could no longer guarantee my safety at main headquarters, and that the troops ' were no longer trustworthy, I resolved after a severe _ mental struggle to leave the army, which had collapsed, and go to Holland. I advise you to stick to your post until the conclusion of the armistice. I hope to see you again in happier times. Your faithful and deeply-afflicted father, Wilhelm." Thereupon the Crown Prince wrote to Herr Ebert requesting permission to remain at his post, and undertaking to bring the army homeward in a well-disci-plined and orderly manner. Ebert refused the request, and the Crown Prince, in the course of a lengthy letter to Hindenburg justifying his action, said he had decided with deep emotion and after hard struggles, to go 'to a neutral country. He pointed out that no renunciation of the throne, had either been demanded or made by him. THE POOD SHORTAGE. The slow progress of the Peace Conference has led to a startling movement in England, appealing for withdrawing the blockade of Germany in order to facilitate Greater food imports. The movement is ased on special reports of the famine conditions prevailing in Germany and the despair of the people, -which factors are contributing to Bolshevism's rapid growth. The movement includes bishops, clergy, and many public men not associated with politics, besides prominent opponents of the Lloyd George Government. The first consignment of foreign food has reached Berlin, via Hamburg, where large quantities were stolen. Forty dock workers have been arrested.. . A SECRET TREATY, The Daily Chronicle's Geneva correspondent learns from a reliable source that a formal secret treaty exists between the Geman Spartacists and the Russian Bolshevists. It was concluded on January 5, in Rosa Luxembourg's room, in the presence of Herr Liebknecht and M. Radek, the latter acting on behalf of Lenin. The latter undertook to recognise Herr Liebknecht as presidnet of a German Soviet Republic, to furnish important funds for the Spartacists' propaganda, to supply trained agents, and to order the Russian Soviet army a to cross the German frontier to support simultaneously a rising in Berlin. Herr Liebknecht was pledged to establish a Soviet Government, and to raise an army of half a million, which'would be placed under a war commissary in Moscow. The murder of Liebknecht disarranged the concerted plan, but it is believed that Herr Ebert (German President) is toying with this agreement, and even threatens to ratify it with a -view to intimidating the Entente. GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS. The Frankfurter Zeitung states that Herr Ladaurer, one of the people's delegates at Munich, declares that he possesses memoraundum prepared by Herr Erzberger in December, 1914, showing Germany's peace terms on the Allies. The terms include the annexation of Belgium and Normandy, a compact in regard to the African Empire, and an indemnity sufficient to meet the entire German debts. THE EBERT GOVERNMENT. The New York Times correspondent Interviewed members of the American Military Commission which visited Berlin for the purpose "of reporting on the conditions there. Members said they thought the Ebert Government would keep in power until peace was signed, and would then be forced to resign. The new Government might be autocratic. Members declared that the reports of Spartacist uprisings had been exaggerated by -the German authorities for the purpose of influencing the parties at the conference towards a speedy decision of the peace terms. SOVIET REPUBLIC IN BAVARIA. While Herr Erzberger was at Spa he received a wireless message announcing that a Soviet republic has been proclaimed at Augsbury, A Spartacist upheaval in Munich is inevitable. Herr Bela.. Kun (Hungarian Foreign Minister) has arrived, and is reported to be negotiating for a treaty between Bavaria, Russia, and Hungary. Panic and the bourgeoisie are fleeing en masse. They are selling their property at any price. The railway stations are crowded. A gjreat force of armed peasantry is marching towards Munich to destroy the Spartacists' Soviet Republic. The soldiers are at present neutral. The Spartacists have occupied the Parliament Buildings at Munich, and proclaimed a Soviet Republic. A similar proclamation was made at mass meetings ttiroughout the city. The iroopa did not

participate, but refused to fight for the Government, declaring that their sympathies -were -with the proletariat. A civil war in Bavaria is expected, as the peasants, who are armed and organised, are marching no Munich.

THE HUNGARIAN MISUNDERSTANDING.

Colonel Vix, commander of the military ggiasion at Budapest, states that Count Karolvi misinterpreted the Entente's Note regarding the new lines of demarkation, •VWch were intended to create a neutral jte\i& between tho Hungarian and Ru-J»a»-faa troops and not to establish a new political frontier. When the Hungarians and Rumanians iBOHie time ago made a forward movement the conference.'aid down a line of demarcation beyond which neither should ipross. It was a military, and not a political line, but unfortunately misconception arose in the minds of . the Hungarians, who regarded It as a political, not an evanescent military line. General Smuts, therefore, has been sent to Budapesth to inquire into, the position and supply the conference with first-hand information on the Avhole question.

COUNT KAROLYI'S TREACHERY

Prince Wendisgratz, former Hungarian Jfood Minister, interviewed at Genoa, declared that Count Karolvi'a following consisted moatly of nobles ruined by gambling. Count Karolyi made many concessions to .tlb.o Communists until the latter overthrew ilia Government. The present Governteiercb only represented Budapest, and wag fconrprtaed mostly of Jews, |>ut it was a paorl logical arrangement iiusw, Karolyi's

e 1 antom rule. Two • thousand Anglo-1 ench troops would be sufficient to re- I store order in Hungary now, but the situation might be very different six months hence. It would be unwise to send Czech, Rumanian, or Serbian troops, j whose presence would arouse national anti- | pathies. M. Belakunj Foreign Minister, j was a journalist prisoner of war in Russia, j where he became intimate with Lenin. It was reported that the latter provided funds lor Belakun to publish a rampantly communist newspaper at Budapest. Prince Wendisgrata stated that Count Karolyi offered to serve the new Government as a private to assist the Red j Revolution to destroy the capitalists, who.-e representatives in Paris were ready | to reduce Hungary's innocent population ' to beggary. The Russian Minister j Schitcheria sent a message to M. Belakun j stating that Germany, in obedience to the Entente, had formed new detachments j for a general offensive; that the French j General Neissel, at Warsaw, was forming a juncture with the Polish army, which was the centre of the new invasion. The ] right flank consists of General Petlura's : troops in Germany. The left flank has. ! taken Tukkum. and is now approaching j TJponevij. The Poles, progressing to- , wards Vima and Minsk, have occupied j Baranovitch,- and the Ukrainian right is • completely disorganised. j Simultaneously with the upheaval in j Hungary, General Kolchak, with his j Siberian army, commenced a rapid often- j sive in the East. He penetrated through J Perm and occupied .Ufa, This advance | has been stopped, and rapid progress has 1 been made against General Petlura's ' forces.

ALLIED TROOPS ATTACKED. It is reported that French troops between Hungary and Rumania were attacked, losing many prisoners. The Hungarian army is threatening the Rumanian frontier. It is announced that 300 French troops stationed in the neutral zone between Hungary and Rumania have been captured by the Hungarians. It is reported trjat Entente forces have landed at Kronstadt (? Constanza) en rqute for Hungary. It is reported that several officers and men of the three British monitors which ascended the Danube to Budapest were killed by Hungarian gunfire. THE CHAOS IN HUNGARY. The Hungarian Government has sent a delegate to Berlin to conclude a treaty of alliance against the Entente. German officers have arrived to reorganise the Hungarian army. It is reported from Budapest that the Hungarian Soviet made an offer to Germany to form an alliance against the Entente, and it is rumoured that Lenin made a similar offer to the German Government. Reports from Hungary indicate that Bolshevism there has been artificially created for the purpose of securing easier terms from the Allie 3. German influence is suspected. A former Hungarian Minister describes the Budapest Government's statements regarding the situation as untrue. If the communistic regime continues there will be thousands of deaths from starvation. Sic workmen have taken over the faeries, resulting in & large number of unemployed.

The People's Commissary at Budapest is organising a Red Guard consisting of 30,000 dependable volunteers for the purpose of maintaining order. The commander at one town, who is believed to be the German representative at Budapest, ordered all Germans to leave Hungary. The Bolshevists are reported to have failed in their movement in German Austria. The report of Count Karolyi's arrest and assassination is officially denied. It is reported in London that .the Hungarian Soviet Government has* declared war against Serbia and the surrounding countries. The Hungarian revolutionary authorities have issued a decree that illegitimate children shall have equal rights with legitimates. Two people living together for a year shall be regarded as lawfully married. Husbands and wives living apart will be permitted to enter on a new marriage, cancelling the former obligation. The Red Army receives full rations, the lower and middle classes half rations, and the bourgeoisie only a most meagre fraction. Advices from Vienna state that Lenin has sent a wireless message to the Hungarian Foreign Minister asking him what real guarantees he possesses that the n&w Government is really Communistic and not merely Socialist, whom Lenin calls "social traitors." He warns the Minister that OAving to the peculiar circumstances it would certainly be a mistake for the Hungarian revolution to imitate Russian tactics in detail. Colonel Pix, head of the Allied mission, at Budapesth, has arrived at Belgrade. M. Belarun, the new Hungarian Foreign Minister, informed him that he desired

to observe the armistice and continue rotations with the m Entente. Ho declared that his Government was Socialist, and not Bolshevist. According to other reports, however, M. Belarun is still negotiating for an alliance with the Russian Soviets. GENERAL SMUTS' MISSION. Advices received in Vienna from Budapest state that General Smuts has begutt negotiations for a revision of the armistice terms. The Hungarian Government is to undergo reorganisation on a more moderate Socialistic basis, the extremist members resigning. A NEW GOVERNMENT. It i§ reported that the new Government at Budapest has been overthrown. No details can be got, as the telephones are disconnected. > THE EX-EMPEROR. The ex-Emperor Charles has arrived in Switzerland, wearing a general's uniform with decorations. Count Czernin accompanied the ex-Emperor, and announces his intention to live in sedusion, devoting his attention to educating his children. revolutionln G ALICIA. Russian advices assert that the whole of Galicia has joined the revolution, which began in the Brohobyozpil districts where a Soviet has been established. It is also asserted that the Polish Gov? ernment's troops have joined the revolur tionaries. A general strike has been declared in Lemberg. Rumanians have crossed the frontier and are advancing towards Stanislaus. THE POSITION IN POLAND. Colonel Macalpin, who has returned from Poland, confirms the report that if social order is to be maintained it will be not only food but raw material tha£ will be required to get the people work. There is a difficulty owing to the country's in procuring these, and it looks as if Britain will have to render some financial aid. General items. The British military authorities have forbidden the Tageblatt, the Germania, and several other papers to circulate in the occupied zones. . . The Austrian Government has complied with the» Entente Mission's demand for the expulsion from Vienna of Bolshevist agitar tors sent by the Hungarian Republic.