TURBULENT DAYS IN GERMANY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1507, 11 December 1918, Page 5

TURBULENT DAYS IN GERMANY

BOLSHEVIK MENACE NOT YET QUELLED STRASSEURG RECEIVES CHARTER OF LIBERTY GRAFT SENSATION IN AUSTRALIAN SENATE Herr Liebknecht and his group of extremists are still endeavouring' to seize power in Germany, but it is considered that the returning soldiers will support the Government, which is in no danger if it takes a courageous course. There were affecting scenes when President Poincare handed the people of Strassburg their charter of liberty. Sir 2ric Geddes declares that Germany should be made to refund the full cost of the war. A sensation has been caused in Australia by the report of a lioyal Commission, which charges Senator Long with having received £2400 as a consideration for political influence. THE MARCH OF REVOLUTION IN GERMANY EFFORTS BY EXTREMISTS TO GAIN CONTROL. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. (A. & X.Z. & Reuter.) (Roc. Dec. 11. 8.35 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, Dec. 9. Imposing demonstrations of extremists, headed by Liebkneelit in an armoured ear, continue in Berlin. The sequel remains to be unrolled. The Berlin workmen are predominantly Bolshevik, and deserters are their natural allies, but the returning soldiers are overwhelmingly on the side of the Government.* These alone have arms. A vast stream of soldiers that will be flowing into Berlin in the next few days; is likely to alter the position entirely in favour of Ebert. If the Government lias a courageous and definite policy, there is little fear. Liebknecht's followers really have fewer arms. A deserter said to the " Tageblatt": "We were fools to give up our rifles.'' Meanwhile, the Government is taking a strong line against violence on either side.

GOVERNMENT HOLDING A TRUMP CARD. (A. & X.Z. & Router.) (Bee. Dee. 11, 10.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, Dec. 10. Speakers in the Berlin Soviet announced that the Government is maintaining a secret body of counter-revolutionary troops, mainly the Kaiser's old guard, with a view to suppressing all extreme elements. PEASANTS HOARDING UP THE FOOD SUPPLIES. (A. & N.Z. & Reuter.) (Bee. Dee. 11, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 10. The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Express” learns from a well-informed source that there is a considerable stock of food in the country, but the peasants refuse to disgorge, except at exorbitant prices. There is no nourishment in the food served in the Berlin hotels. The poor live on cabbages and potatoes. The bread is uneatable. STRASSBURG BECOMES FREE AGAIN. POINCARE GIVES PEOPLE CHARTER OF LIBERTY. (A. & N.Z. & Reuter.) (Roe. Dee. 11, 9 a.m.) STRASSBURG, Dec. 10. There was a profoundly moving scene when President Pioncare handed over to the people of Strassburg their charter of liberty. Thousands of eyes, including M. Clemenceau’s, were dimmed with tears by the President's vivid story of the past sufferings, longings, and hopes of the people, especially during the recent compulsion of Alsatians to wear the German uniform to fight their brethren of beloved France. The nightmare is now over, he said. The dream of many years has become a fact, but one cannot blot out the other. The past still lives to nerve the people for the future. A plebiscite lias been taken, and Alsace, weeping for joy, has thrown herself on the breast of her mother, whom she has found again. Strassburg, with its garrison of 17,000 men, surrendered to the Germans on September 28, 1871. after a siege of seven weeks. The city is old, and Jins had an eventful history. The site was originally occupied as a Celtic settlement, which was captured by the Romans. The town received its present name from the Franks, towards the cud of the sth Century. In 1349 2009 dews were burned at Strassburg on a charge of causing pestilence by poisoning the wells. GERMANY SHOULD PAY THE FULL COST. KAISER AND OTHER MURDERERS SHOULD BE PUNISHED. (A. & N.Z. £ Renter.) (Roe. Dee. 11, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 10. Sir Eric Geddes, in n speech at, Cambridge, expressed the opinion that. Germany should refund Ihe full cost of the war, together with the. cost of all damage done by land and sea. ft was inconceivable that the supremacy of the British Navy would ever be surrendered, and also inconceivable that the Kaiser, the murderer of Captain Fryatt and others, should go unpunished. ALLEGED GRAFT IN AUSTRALIAN POLITICS. MINISTER RESIGNS AND MEMBER MAY BE PROSECUTED. (Rec. Dee' mber 11. 19.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 11. The report of the Koval Commission which inquired into the purchase of the Shaw wireless station and two steamers by the Government, states that the Commission is of opinion that Senator Long received £2400 from Fat her Shaw as a consideration for political influence used in connection with the purchase. After Cabinet had considered the report, the lion. W. A. Wyatt announced that there was no evidence to connect the lion. d. A. -Jensen (Minister of Customs) with the receipt of money in connection with the purchase of the wireless station, but Cabin"! had decided that it was undesirable that he should remain a member of tin' Government, and was taking steps to arrange for Ins retirement. lu respect to Senator Long, Cabinet is consulting counsel as v to whether the evidence justifies action being taken in the Law ('ourts.

HIS TASK WELL DONE. HA IC. RETURNING HOME. A. and y t'rhh .! . .i.-iVC.;, mid l;, iih'r. (l\fc. Deo. 11, '.MU LONDON. Dec. 10. Sir Dougins llni.M v ii> rrlurn io on December 20.

! THE KAISER. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, A tmhvllau unj X.X. Calde A.maii'ialion. I (Hoc- Dec. 11. lull NEW YOKE, Doc. II). | (ienmm newspapers report 11ml the Kuiscr unsuccessfully uticmpled : Id commit suicide.

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