GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 3

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA.

AUSTRIAN STRIKE SPREADING. PROFUSE GOVERNMENT v PROMISES. FAIL TO END STRIKE, (Received' Jan. 23, 9.10 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 22. Vienna telegrams state that, in consequence'of the Government’s promise to speed up an honourable general peace, to improve food conditions and giant a democratic suffrage, the Aus-trian-striko leaders recommended an immediate resumption of work, but the Workers are disregarding their loaders’ advice and the strikes are extending. RESIGNATION OF MINISTRY. AMSTERDAM, Jan. 21. Tire Austrian strikes are spreading. Peace is demanded. The Ministry has resigned. , LONDON, Jan. 21. The Daily Telegraph’s Milan correspondent says the general strike in Aus-tro-HUngary originated in the reduction of the broad ration. The Arbeiter Zcitung denounced the reduction, and declared the privileged classes wore toterably well provided for, whereas the millions were unable to get broad, and the authorities did not care. The papers urged the workers of Vienna to demonstrate. The response exceeded expectations. Many railway and State workers struck. The populace joined in, the streets of central'Vienna being packed by crowds, demanding bread. The town council hastily met and sent a message to the Government protesting against the reduction of the bread ration. The strike has extended to the munition works at Noustnd, which aro entirely closed. Violent encounters have taken place between the police ’ and the strikers. The authorities feared to employ the military. There were many encounters at Cracow, whore the Archbishop headed a procession to the Governor’s Palace. The Daily Telegraph’s Milan correspondent says that the latest news from Vienna reports that the demonstrations continued during the week-end. There ore, huge processions of strikers, munition workers, and women and children. The agitation then became of a political character in favour of peace. A Socialist deputation approached the Government and received an assurance that peace negotiations were being expedited. BERNE. Jan. 21. It is estimated that there aro now 1,200,000 strikers in Austria. A VICTORY FOR PAN-GERMANS. AMSTERDAM, Jan, 21. The retirement of von Valentini, the chief of the Kaiser’s civil Cabinet, is regarded as a victory for the Pan-Ger-mans. The Tneglischo Rundschau declares that von Valentini is an opponent of flic submarining policy, and the real author of the Kaiser’s Easter suffrage manifesto. Von Vnlontini’s successor is von Berg, a- typical officer of the Prussian Guard, and a pronounced Pan-Ger-man. He becomes the Kaiser’s closest personal adviser.

NEW AUSTRIAN MINISTRY. GERMAN PAPERS SILENT ABOUT POSITION. \ (Received Jan. 23, 11.40 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 22. \ Count von Toggenbmg is forming an Austrian Cabinet. Dr, Wekerlo, the Hungarian Premier, has also" gone to Vienna to oiler his Cabinet’s resignation. ' Berlin papers, except the Vorwarts, maintain complete silence on Austrian affairs. The Vorwarts regards the situation as one of extreme gravity, and opines that Austria is turning against the veiled annexationism of the German policy. GERMAN MINING MAGNATE. TELLS OF GERMAN PLANS OP CONQUEST. (Received Jan.' 23, 11.50 a.m.) NEAV YORK, Jan. 22.The New York World prints a suppressed article from a Berlin paper in which the former commercial magnate, August Thyssen, stated that many Germans in 1913 wore asked to support the Hohenzollern war policy, and offered’ rich rewards. The Hohenzollerns said that war had become a necessity for the preservation of the military system, and offered him a grant of 30,000 acres of land in Australia and a loan of three-quarters of a million dollars to develop the land. Other firms were promised special facilities in India, and a syndicate was formed for-the exploitation of Canada. It was calculated that Germany could conquer Australia, India, and Canada by the end of 1915. The promises were made by Herr yon Bethraann-Hollweg and confirmed by the Kaiser. Herr Thyssen adds: “When asked to guarantee a million dollars in the war loan of 1916 I declined, whereupon my war contracts were cancelled and my business received.”