NEWS BY MAIL.

Western Star, 3 April 1917, Page 4

NEWS BY MAIL.

-- AMSTERDAM, January 18. According lo the “Rheinisches Weslfalieche Zeitung,” the leaders of the German people’s party, at a meeting in Cassel, demanded the political, military, and economic annexation of Belgium to the German Empire and the immediate administrative separation of the Flemish and Walloon regions. GENEVA, January 12. The ''Gazette de Lausanne” publishes a statement, "on good authority,” to the effect that the German Government is prepared to evacuate Belgium and the French territory occupied by its troops in return for the Belgian Congo and for the establishment of an independent Roland. The Government is also prepared to make concessions to Russia in other directions, probably at the expense of Turkey. AMSTERDAM, January 17. In one of the most recent disasters to Zeppelins whiyh visited England eleven brothers were burnt to dath. An aged man recently here from tiermany told how he brought up a family of eleven sons, every one of whom entered the air service. The eleven young men formed part of the crew of one of the destroyed Zeppelins, and when this fell in flames in England" they all perished. BERNE, January' 12. Serious popular disturbances occurred at Grata (Austria) last Saturday and Sunday. Hug© crowds ran amok in the streets demanding increased rations, and shouting “We are starving!” “We want peace!” Numerous shops were attacked, and the disturbances reached such a point on Saturday night that troops quartered at Grata were called out. These included a battalion of the 27tli Infantry Regiment and another regiment composed chiefly of Czeclis. The soldiers refused to attack the populace. Their ollicers, powerless, marched the men back to barracks. The disturbances revived on Sunday, and the police, deprived of the help of troops, were unable to cope with them. _ COPENHAGEN, January 14. The Swedish papers report that ’a large number of Germans who left Sweden at Christmas, and who should have relumed at the 'beginning of the New Year, have not arrived. In Sweden the reason is supposed to be the civil mobilisation, which is now being put into force. The “Natiouale Tidende” states that n large number of Germans who have been living at Danish hotels since the start of the war, and left on a visit to Germany, are still missing. For example, at one hotel, where there were twenly-live Germans, there are now only'.one or two. “Probably,” says the paper, “it is now very difficult for a German to leave his country', and undoubtedly the civil mobilisation. tile different stages of which are not yef known, is preventing him from living in a neutral country if it is necessary in the interests of the State for him to remain in the Fatherland.” ROME, January' 15. It is n ported here that a huge dmc.cn Ration of Austrian and Bavarian troupe is taking place in the Innsbruck district, for training in mountain warfare, with a view to yet another “punitive expedition” against Italy, which the Emperor Karl is said to have determined upon reattempting in the coming spring through the illfated Pasubio sector. The original Tyrolese Corps, to which Austria had confided the Alpine war, beyond having had Us ranks more than cleci mated, is stated to he thoroughly wearied and pessimistic about the outcome of the struggle. News brought Irum Innsbruck recount: frequent sanguinary affrays between the soldiery' of clivers nationalities, particularly between Bohemians, Germans, and Hungarian Croats. Three clays ago serious mutiny' occurred in a regiment mainly composed of raw recruits, cm tinscore of the uneatable quality of the bread rations. SALONIKA, January 15. The commonest view of the Balkan campaign is that it is an altruistic culerpri c intended lo “redeem our pledges to Sc: bia.” This is felt to he a sentimental undertaking to which we are committed in honour. The first and most urgent object of our endeavour here must clearly he to cut the railway which now connects Berlin with Baghdad. That line is the oesophagus of the Central Empires. Along it Germany brings foodstuffs and men from the great reservoir of both that she possesses in Asia Minor. Only' by cutting that long railway line can this process be stopped, and this, indeed. is the only justification for maintaining our expensive hut hitherto inadequate force in Macedonia. The present New Year finds us in the same position here as last, except that we are in closer touch with our enemies, both in front and rear of us, than then. It can only he hoped that the reinforcements that will arrive in 1917 will make it possible by next New Year to have got astride that vital trailsBalkan railway'.