IN THE REICHSTAG.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13698, 31 May 1915, Page 3

IN THE REICHSTAG.

CHANCELLOR'S VIOLENT OUTBURST. THREATS TO ITALY. GERMANY'S 'HOLY ANGER."

AMSTERDAM, May 30. Dr. Von Bethmann Hollweg (German Chancellor) made a. violent outburst in the Reichstag. He said. Italy had inscribed in the book of history her violation of faith in ineffaceable letters of blood. Her war was a directly-maHe war. Nobody had threatened Italy, neither Austria-Hungary nor Germany, i at\d she might liav© bloodlessly secured a long list of concessions. Perhaps she wished to conquer the German Tyrol. If so, hands off !

He denied that the Auatro-German offers came too late, and said Italy had engaged herself long beforehand so deeply with, the Triple Entente that she was unable to disentangle herself. He said the Cabinet at Rome had manifested fluctuations as far back as December. , It w<as always useful to have two irons in the fire. Italy before had shown a- predilection for extra dances, but this was no ballroom ; it Avas a bloody battlefield, in* which Germany and .Austria-Hungary were fighting for their lives against a world of pigmies. Italian statesmen had played against Italy the same game as against the Triplice.* A majority of the Italian Parliament and people early in the crisis might not nave desired war, but it was commonsense to .say that the mob alone ruled, Avith the assistance of the leading statesmen of- the Cabinet, fed Avith the Triple Entente's 'gold'. This mob, under the guidance of the unscrupulous war agitators, roused to a frenzy of blood, threatened tlie King of Italy with revolution and all moderate meti with murder l unless they : joined in the war de iivium. Italians were intentionally kept in the dai'k regarding Austria's far-reach-ing concessions. In the frenzy of war honest politicians grew dumb. After paying a tribute to Prince Bu low's efforts, and predicting that the central PoAvers would triumph, he eulogi&ed Turkey's victorious resistance, in tho Dardanelles,- and said : "Heretofore our enemies have vainly summoned against us all the forces of' tho world in a gigantic coalition. We are brave soldiers, but w© do not despise our enemies las our adversaries like to do."

He ridiculed the British Government's publication of the evidence of unnamed witnessed on alleged cruelties in Belgium a-ri so monstrous as only riia<l brains could believe." . ' He accused. Prance of , concealing the Allies' severe. losses in the east and'west,and added: "We are. replying, .with;; a good conscience and in. a just cause with «;, victorious sword, and will not allow ourselves to' be forced a hair's breadth from the path we ■ have always recognised as right. Not in hatred, but in holy anger do we wage this Avar', and tb* more wildly the storm rages the more firmly must wo build our house. Loyal co-operation throughout will bring your Kaiser's warm thanks." (Prolonged applause.') The abusive passages of the speech vvere received Avith frantic cheers.