GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1916, Page 5

GERMANY.

TO DISCUSS THE WAR. FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, Amsterdam, March 14. The German Foreign Affairs Committee will assemble on Wednesday, and is endeavoring to interview Herr von Beth-mann-HoUweg to .discuss the war. Herr von Bsthnmnn-Hollwcg, as German Chancellor, docs not attend the. committee meetings, and thus Prussia is not represented. There have been many protests in the Reichstag at the press gagging public opinion.

Herr George Bernhard, writing in the Vossiche Zeitung, says the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee may be regarded as a sign that the German States, except Prussia, desire to confer with the Chancellor. Attempts are being made in influential quarters to produce the suicide of the present conference, but it will give Herr von Beth-mann-Hollweg an opportunity to dispel rumors which are greatly alarming public opinion. It is reported that the Government has taken a decision which does not meet witl* the people's approval. is necessary to explain to Herr von Betlimann-Hollweg where these tactics are leading. It is understood that Herr Bernhard is alluding to submarine warfare, war ambitions, and America.

WAR WITH ITALY IMMINENT. Received March 15, 0.15. p.m. Paris, March 15. The Berliner Tagebiatt says that Italy's declaration of war on Germany is imminent. RIOTS IN GERMAN TOWNS. Rome, March 14. II Corrierc dolliv Sera says that the German failure at Verdun has caused disturbances in Berlin, Dresden, and Frankfort. Machine-guns were used in some towns to quell the crowds. BAVARIANS DEPRESSED. Amsterdam, March 14. There are depressing rumors in Munich of enormous Bavarian losses at Verdun. The War Minister, in a speech in the Chamber, said: "We must not lose confidence owing to small miscarriages at Verdun, where developments will require a long time.'' ECONOMY OF MEN. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, March 14. Interesting natices are appearing in the German papers illustrating methods of economy of the men available for military service and the division of their resources between army and domestic requirements. The Prussian Ministry of War has issued new instructions as regards agricultural labor. Every large farm and every group of smail farms must be allowed to retain one person in authority with assistants capable of distributing the available labor. All men now on farms who are only fit for garrison duty will be retained until sowing time is over. Arrangements have been made for distributing among the farms war prisoners and interned civilians.