CENTRAL POWERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16227, 24 March 1917, Page 10

CENTRAL POWERS.

GREAT OFFENSIVE THREATENED (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) NEW YORK, March 22. The Hague correspondent of the New York 1 'Times'' learns from confiderlfcial German sources that Germany intends a great offensive on a certain front ifco begin 011 April 5. GERMANY AND REVOLUTION. SOCIALIST SAYS TIME IS RIPE. i According to the report of a speech in the Reichstag by the Socialist member, Hei-r Hoffman, which has been received from Berlin by the State. Dei pa.rtment, it is believed 'that conditions arc ripe for a revolution in Germany. A SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC. There are 30.000 cases oif smallpox in Germany. DONE WITH ABSOLUTISM. PARIS, March 22. Herr Ledebonr. the s'ociaiist lender speaking in tihe Reichstag said: ' 'We have learned of £reat events in Russia. These emphasise the importance of suppressing our bureaucratic absolutism. The Germans do not wish to remain behind olbbe-r peoples." NO DISORDER IN GERMANY. COPENHAGEN, March 22. From reliable sources it is learned that the rumours of disorder in Germany, are untrue. ~ STATEMENT ENDORSED. AMSTERDAM, March 22. '.Hie newspapers, discredits. ; tho rumour of serious disorder in Germany. They point out that telegraphic communicatiot: wi!th Holland is not interruped.

. PRISONERS IN ENGLAND."' The ' "Telegnai" states that in the Reichstag Dr. Krieg, on-behalf of the Foreign Office, declared Icihat the condition of 'German prisoners at Alexandra Palace, London, was satisfactory. THE COMMERCIAL FLEET. AMSTE'RiDM, March 22. In the Reichstag Herr Helfferich, Finance Minister, said negotiations were' proceeding with shipowners for the reconstruction of the commercial fleeta.. , | i I '