THE CENTRAL POWERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 15

THE CENTRAL POWERS

GERMANY IN A STATE OF CHAOS. STRIKES AND SABOTAGE. (By Cable.) A CORRESPONDENT'S REPORT. The Daily News Berlin correspondent states that the utmost confusion exists throughout Germany, although strike troubles appear momentarily less serious. The Government's terrorist tactics in the Ruhr districts have been successful _ in starving the strikers into submission. Similar tactics are being employed in Brunswick and Bavaria, where the revolutionaries are too strong to be crushed Dy arms. The Brunswick revolutionaries attempted to break the barrier by sending A lorry with a woman and baby alongside the driver.' Both were killed by machine gun fire. The Bavarian revolution is still confined to the towns. There is an absence of land hunger, as the farmers hold the land under a freebold tenure. The revolutionary movement is, therefore, easily starved in the country districts. The bank strike is spreading to the provincial centres. STRIKES AND RISINGS. Vorwarts states that a Soviet Republic Was proclaimed in the Ruhr district on the 10th, but was frustrated by the Government occupation of Essen. Seventeen members of the Workers' Council at Mulheim and Ruhr, who voted foe the immediate proclamation of the Soviet Republic, were arrested on a charge of high treason. The Berlin Bank strike has extended to the Deutsche and all private banks. A general strike is proclaimed at Brunswick. It is expected that a Soviet republic will be established immediately. Forty persons were killed in Thursday's street fighting at Dusseldorf.. French troops suppressed the strike at , the Mainz Electricity Works, and threatened to deport the strikers to French colonies. It is reported that Baden is adoptnig Soviet rule. Street fighting at Dusseldorf continues. The Sjiartacists, attacking the prison with Eaohihe guns, were repulsed, 37 being lied and 110 wounded. A six hours' day has been adopted. The gravediggers at Stettin have joined the strikers, and many coffins are lying in open graves. Except at Berlin, strikes and sabotage are everywhere prevalent in Germany, originating in the lack of food and the general feeling of despair. Germany is likened to a great wasp's nest. It is not a question of Bolshevism, but anarchy. There is a strike at Ruhr, where 375 idle miners refuse to allow the necessary •Work to prevent the mines being permanently damaged. They have even refused to extinguish an underground fire in the Shamrock mine. It is expected that a Saxon Soviet Republic will be proclaimed forthwith at Leipzig. Government artillery bombarded Spartacist strong posts at Dusseldorf for 90 minutes. Infantry, converging from different quarters, then stormed the portions. The Spartacists fled and were pursued. Many were killed and hundreds wounded, yhilst others were buried in the debris. Fifty-four unwounded prisoners were captured. Of the attackers 10 were killed and 23 wounded. Riots between the Socialists and the •ntl-Socialists continue in Milan, and several persons have been killed Government troops surrounded a meetJag of strike leaders near Essen, and arrested the agitators. Serious riots have occurred at HamIrarg, and there is much plundering. RIOTING IN DRESDEN. An assault on the citadel at Dresden Is momentarily expected. Fighting is proceeding in the streets. Troops are garrisoned in the famous Court Church defending a vital bridgehead. A state of siege has been proclaimed. Rioters at Dresden stormed the Saxon War Ministry. They seized the War Eister (Herr Nauring) and threw him the Elbe. The mob was furious tuse Herr Nauring refused to receive a deputation of wounded. He ordered up troops to defend the Ministry, but the mob toersuaded them to distribute their rifles einongst the crowd. They found Herr Nauring in hiding, and after he was thrown into the river he was fired on till he sank. Spartacist soldiers at Dresden occupied the military headquarters. Loyal Jaegers guard other public buildings. POLICY OF REPRESSION. The Berliner Tageblatt interviewed Herr Noske, who said: "The only method of nealing with communistic lunatics is merciless repression. We must strike as strongly as possible to prevent the Fatherland from collapsing." On learning of the murder of Herr Nauring, Herr Nosko arranged for the immediate despatch of sufficient troops to Dresden to restore order.

TRYING TO PROMOTE BUSINESS. The No.v York Times Coblenz correspondent says: German business men are trying to re-open relations with British, jfrench, Belgian, and American firms. At the American headquarters the censor troened 2000 letters from Germany in a jangle day, offering to -establish branches In Germany for Allied and American concerns.

THE BAVARIAN SITUATION. The three Governments in Bavaria are fighting against each other. The Communists in Munich overthrew the Soviet Government and established a Central Council of five workmen and five soldiers, with a bricklayer as President. Other soldiers and workmen elected a Council, and ordered the Communists to abdicate. Both councils are calling on the troops for protection. Meanwhile the legitimate Government elected by the Diet has been re-established at Hamburg, has organised its forces, and has isolated Munich, cutting off its coal and food supplies. The latest reports state that the Communists in Munich have not yet been mastered. Heavy fighting is proceeding in the streets between Government troops and the Red Guards. . The latter are using trench mortars, and have recaptured the railway station, post offices, and several other public buildings, A tragic comedy is revealed at Munich, where the Government troops on Saturday brought about the fall of the Bavarian Soviet Republic. It transpires that the revolution was a put-up iob, engineered by the Bavarian Prussian Conservatives, using sham Socialists and Communists as agents' provocateurs. The plotters aimed at causing the maximum confusion in Germany, with the view of making the fulfilment of peace conditions, especially the financial conditions, impossible. The primary motive was to separate Bavaria from the rest of Germany, hoping for more favourable terms of peace. Hopeless internal differences, coupled w'sth General Hoffman's military coup, shattered the scheme, and plunged BaVaria into civil war. The Daily Chronicle's Berlin correspondent states that the whole of Northern Bavaria, except Bof, is now in the hands of General Hoffman's Government, whose troops are standing on the Danube. The Soviets again control Munich. Herr Noske, Minister of War, threatens Munich with a military expedition from North Germany. The Spartacists at Munich have decided to establish a Soviet dictatorship. They seized bourgeoisie hostages, who will be punished whenever the Government punishes the Communists. The ex-King of Bavaria has applied for sanctuary in Switzerland. The latest news from Munich is that the city is entirely in the power of the Spartacists; but the Government troops are reinforced and are now bombarding the Spartacists' stronghold, the railway station, whilst other Bavarian reinforcements are proceeding to Munich. The Spartacists arrested . most of the members of the Central Council. Street fighting is increasing, and many civilians are victims. A battle in Munich between the Government forces and the Spartacists for possession, of the railway station ended in the complete defeat of the former. Railway communication between Berlin and Munich is now suspended GERMAN AUSTRIA WARNED. The British military representative has informed the Government that if disturbances occur in German Austria imports of foodstuffs and raw materials will be stopped immediately. According to despatches from Vienna the Soldiers' Council controls the city. THE HUNGARIAN SITUATION. Berlin advices state that a train conveying 500 refugees, mostly Germans, arrived from Budapest, where'firing is going on day and night. Soviet soldiers hold up men and women in the streets, rob them of money and 'jewels, invade the cafes and hotels, and terrorise and rob the occupants. The bulk of the population are opposed to the Soviet, but, being without arms, they are helpless. A Hungarian wireless message states that M. Belakun, in an interview, said that the negotiations with General Smuts were most cordial, and there was every reason for the hope that the Entente did not contemplate attacking the Hungarian Republic. General Smuts sympathetically viewed the conference that is representing tne States formerly included in AustriaHungary at Prague and Vienna for the purpose of considering the boundaries and economic relations. AN ARCHDUKE MURDERED. The murders of the Archduke Josef . and others is confirmed, but not the details. Whether thev were executed after trial by the terrorists or assassinated is not stated. The wildest anarchy prevails, and the Soviet Government is becoming increasingly unstable. It is "making efforts to maintain its authority by resorting to terrorism, making wholesale arrests of officials and supporters of the' old regime. AFFAIRS IN POLAND. The New York World Paris correspondent states : Before M. Padei'ewski arrived in Paris the German Government offered to recognise Poland's national aspirations, and guarantee Poland the use of Dantzig, and recognise Poland's claim to Teschan and East Galicia. It also promised help to Poland to re-establish industries if Poland in return accepted the German ownership of Dantzig and agreed that the Lithuanian corridor to Russia would be open for German use. Advices have been received from Germany in connection with the municipal elections at Posen, where the Poles, hitherto in a minority, now possess, under universal suffrage, a sweeping majority, and many towns under the German burgomasters have passed into Polish hands. Similar results are expected in Western Prussia and Silesia.. The New York Times Paris correspondent states that President Wilson has apEointed Mr Hugh Gibson as the United tates Minister to Poland, thus recognising the new republic.

GERMANY AND . RUSSIA. The German Government is urging the Entente to permit a speedy repatriation of Russian prisoners from Germany, because they are increasingly troublesome, and some have been attempting to break prison. The Government fears-they will swell the ranks of the Spartacists. The Deutche Tages Zeitung says that the Russian Bolshevists are negotiating with the German Government. They have offered half a million troops immediately, and they will also permit Germany to select recruits from Russian prisoners to operate against the Entente. Count Brockdorff-Rantzau denies knowledge of the Russian offer of half a million troops. MISCELLANEOUS. Reports from Budapest state that there is a revolution in Serbia. The troops are fraternising with the Hungarian Red Guards. It is announced that the maintenance of the Rhineland army of occupation costs Uermany £5,500,000 monthly. An exchange states that the Entente Powers have informed Berlin that the Peace Treaty will not include Bavaria, and Bavaria will not receive further food supplies.