AUSTRIA’S END NEAR

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15182, 29 March 1917, Page 7

AUSTRIA’S END NEAR

STRICKEN AND HOPELESS EMPIRE. HARVEST OF DEATH. “In rejecting the German peace move the Allied nations have caused, the most widspread depression throughout Austria and Hungary,” said a highlyplaced diplomat' possessed of nrst-hand information concerning conditions not only in Germany, but also in the Dual Monarchy, to a representative of the Central News. “‘While the Teuton is desperately anxious for peace,” he said, “he is seeking only that peace which will leave him in a position to resume hia old place in the commercial world, a peace which will perniit of his’making a further bid for word domination at some future date. But with Austria things are very different. Unless my information is totally inaccurate, her end is near. The situation hourly is becoming more acute, and while Germany may be in a position to continue fighting on the defensive for many months with a semi-starvation diet for her people at home, Austria cannot even find the food necessary to maintain the strength of her armies in the field, much less feed lier people at tome. Already friendly appeals have been made to Geramny for assistance in this direction, but theec appeals have brought no food. NO FOOD FROM ROUMANIA. / “The invasion of Eonmania, from which so much was anticipated, has proved a .dismal failure from the point of view of the relief it has brought to the food situation, and what is causing great dissatisfaction in Austria is the fact that what foodstuffs were captured in the invaded country, instead of going to the relief of the situation in Austria, have been used, for the armies in the field or sent to Germany as evi-;, dence of the victory.” “Hundreds and thousands of lives have .been sacrificed in vain,” said a Hungarian Deputy, discussing the situation with a neutral only a few days ago. “Our troops have fought valiantly, and we find that, instead of reaping a rich harvest of grain, we have reaped one of death and barren lands. Our troops have been fighting to feed the people of Germany instead of our own . people. Next year, we are told, we shall have the fertile-.plains of Eonmania for our cultivation; but how are we to Itve till the harvest is riper”

THE EMPEROR WHO KNOWS. With the death of the Emperor Francis Joseph, the peace movement in the Dual Monarchy received a tremendous accession of strength. The real situation had been concealed from the old Emperor, but. happily for Austria, it was impossible to keep the knowledge from the new King, who has been in. the fighting line, and has visited the people in their own homes. Perhaps there is no man in Anstria to-day better acquainted with the real situation than the young King. Quick to grasp the possibilities, the new King has lent an ear to the peace party. Could he but succeed in' bringing about a peace which would be the means of immediately alleviating the sufferings of his subjects, even at the cost of many and heavy concessions, he would succeed in uniting the many races of his Empire, and would be hailed as the “Saviour of the Nation.” To this end he and his advisers are now directing their efforts. “According to a highly-placed personage in Anstria, one closely in touch with Royal circles, the young King expressed his views in no mild terms to the Kaiser when the All Highest visited Tienna for the purpose of attending the funeral of the late Emperor, with the result that the Kaiser suddenly developed a severe cold, necessitating his immediate return to Germany, hut which did not prevent his visiting his troops.’’ IN THE GRIP OF GERMANY. Several letters from a Hungarian deputy to a neutral were shown to the Central News correspondent. They all spoke of the misery of the people, and the desire for peace, and indicated the readiness of Anstria to make concessions to both Russia and Italy with a view to peace. “But,” adds the writer, “I entertain grave doubts as to the success of such means. Austria is iu the grip of Germany. German influences predominate the Empire. Germany is heedless of the conseqiveuces of the war to us, and I am convinced would as readily sacrifice us to the consequences of defeat as she would sacrifice Turkey, if in sacrificing us she could further her plan to crush England.”