GENERAL NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

WIPE OUT THE HABSBUBG DYNASTY AND END GERMANY’S DREAM. EX-AUSTRIAN POLITICIAN’S ADVICE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) PARIS, February 10. Received February 11, 10.20 p.m. Professor Masaryk, a former member of the Austrian Chamber, who was exiled at the outset of the war,- emphasises the necessity for wiping out the Habsburg dynasty. If Germany is deprived of Austro-Turkish support she will be too weak to“ menace the Western powers Had the Allies at the outset declared that Austrian Slavs would her liberated and the monarchy abolished, AustriaHungary would have been a millstone round Germany's neck, and the entire course of the war would have been changed. * It was a fatal mistake to imagine that Austria would ultimately oppose Germany. Pan-Germanism was rampant in Vienna and Budapest, and outnumbers the Czechs and Slavs. Germany’s one aim was supremacy over Central Hnrope with a view to effectively holding the Allies in check. If the Habsburgs are wiped out Germany's dream will he shattered and the Berlin to Baghdad scheme will be a thing of tlie past. She will never again be able to devastate Europe. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. ANOTHER CAMPAIGN OP OUTRAGE. LONDON', February 11. Received February 12, 12,20 a.m. Newspapers interpret the German memorandum to mean that she is about to embark on another campaign of piratical outrages. Tlie Daily Mail construes it as a reprisal for the Baralong affair. ARMED MERCHANTMEN TO BE TREATED AS BELLIGERENTS GERMAN ANNOUNCEMENT. AMSTERDAM, February 10. Received February 11, 10.20 p.m. A German memorandum to neutrals states that henceforward armed enemy merchantmen will be treated as belligerents. and warns neutrals not to trust persons and property to such vessels. POLICY ENFORCED FROM MARCH 1. LONDON, February 11. Received February 11, 11.45 p,m. Austro-Germany lias notified neutrals that her new pqliey regarding armed merchantmen will be made effective'from Ist March. ALLIES’ CO-OPERATION. FRENCH MISSION TO ITALY. ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. MINISTERS INTERVIEWED. COLOSSAL RESERVE OP MUNITIONS ROME, February 11. Received February 11, 11.45 p.m. French Cabinet Ministers were accorded an enthusiastic welcome. M. Thomas ( French Minister of Munitions) in an interview, said that by the spring Franco wilFpossess a colossal reserve of munitions. The Allies were hastening the output to the utmost. M. Briand, in an interview, said lie was hopeful of securing tlie most serious support of Italian statesmen so as to bring their Joint work to a successful issue by establishing closer and more fruitful co-operation among tlie Allies, AMERICAN ARMY PROPOSALS. CONGRESS HOSTILE. WAR SECRETARY RESIGNS. WASHINGTON, February 11. Received February 12, 12.20 a-m. Mr Lindlcy M. Garrison, War Secretary, ami Mr Breckenbridge, Ills assistant, have resigned on account of a large majority of the Congress opposing tlie scheme of an army on Continental linos. ARRESTED CONSULS RELEASED. ATHENS. February 10. Received February 11, 10.20 p.m. The Austro-Corman Consuls arrested at iVlitylene have been released at Toulon.