AUSTRIA AND THE MAXIMALISTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16144, 23 February 1918, Page 9

AUSTRIA AND THE MAXIMALISTS.

CRY FOR FOOD AND PEACE. (SPECIALLr WBITTEN TOR "THE I'RESS.'') (Bt Mes Julian Grande.) BERNE, December 4. It seems that the proposal of the jj ai imalists for an armistice has not caused such, transports of delight in Austria as might have been expocted. The chief consolation which the Ausirians think will be derived from the jrescnt stato of things in Russia is ihat it may make transport difficulties less, and enable them to get some food to eat, and some coals, not merely for Jomestic purposes, but for keeping their munition and other factories going, eo that to death and disease tho distress consequent on unemployment may not be added.

Stronger language than tho Austrians themselves have been using of lato about their situation, physical, financial, and economic, can hardly be imagined. That underfeeding is tho rulo rather than the exception in Vienna, Galicia, Carinthia, and other largo towns and districts, and that anything approaching sufficiency nowhore prevails, is admitted with a frankness jvhich cannot bo exceeded. Even tho "Nouo Freio Prcsse," the organ of tho Hohenzollerns in Austria, says quite Dpenly that "for nearly two years past Vienna has been living from hand to mouth." Precisely tho same talo is told, only with more emphasis and greater lamentations, as we heard last year, though somewhat later in the winter; that tho harvest has been greatly ovor-estimated, and that nothing lilco the promised quantity of corn and flour has arrived. Moreover, Vienna has absolutely no reserves of cither corn or flour. Apparently "the Roumanian wheat which Austria was promised has gone to Germany, and as for Hungary helping tho Austrians, to quote tho "Neue Frcio Presso" again: "The sorost point" in Austria's painful situation is 4< at prcsont our relation to Hungary." And the "Ncues Wiener Journal" also laments that the worst aspect of Austria's situation as regards food is the callousness of Hungary, who, it says, will not keep her promises to supply Austria with food.

To 6liow how the partners in tho dual Monarchy aro bickering over this food supply question, I may say that every person leaving Hungary for Austria is searched most rigorously at tho frontier, and m tho presence of tho military, to see if ho or she is trying to carry off food of any description. "Matters have now reached such a pass," bays tho "Neuo Freio Prcsse,'' "that wo must absolutely insist on Hungary .so revising tho obligations into which sho entered with Tcgard to Austria that food shall hcncoforth bo equally distributed between both parts of tho Empire." That there is cause for this strong language {ind insistence on the part of Austria is proved by the admission that in Vienna alone every third doath is now caused by tuberculosis, tbo number of deaths from which in tho Austrian capital alono will amount this year, it is reckoned, to i 2,000 (this in a population of about ,one million). 'J üborculosis will soon bo known, says the "Zoit," aa "tho Viennese disease." This and. the very serious epidemic of dysentery last autumn are attributed by the doctors to nothing more or less than malnutrition. Certain other very unpleasant diseases aro also prevalent m Vienna and other parts of Austria, ■which aro entirely duo to lack of proper nourishment

In tho debnte in the Austrian Par- I iiamont on the urgent food interpellations the other day, one member, after referring to tho hunger revolts which recently occurred in various Galician towns, complained bitterly about thfi German authorities exploiting the country, and of German soldiers taking away quantities of food to Germany, and now an official report has beau presented to the Austrian Government (on November 7th last) by tho Presidents of tho District Councils of iiastera Galicia, a district partly reoccupied by Austrian but mainly hy German troops alter the Russian retreat. This official report gives the following account of i>ne conditions. 'i'lic Germans take possession of everything eatable; tho population is dying of nunger and of such diseases as typhus and dysentery, due to oxnaustiori; half a million, acrcs and more havo not been cultivated •at all, and consequently havo -yielded no crops; the evacucs allowed or obliged to return to theiiv-viCnges find no trace either of their houses, their furniture, or their cattle, and axe forced to take Bholter in barracks, in hutß built of 'branches of trees, or even in holes in the ground. They are often reduced to eating roots, and the Government is powerless to relievo them. 'lhe climax of this misery, proceeds the report, is that German soldiers wishing to obtain leave must first prove .that they can tako away 551b of provisions for their familios, besides which ©very German soldier is under obligation to send overy week 4slb of foodstuffs to his people in Germany. That the Austrian censorship should havo suffered such details to be published shows what a pitch matters have reached. To check revolts on tho part of the working classes all works in Austria havo been placed under martial law, and to stem tho death rate, if an Austrian Ministry of Public Healtn has just been created. _ Judging by the Hungarian Press, and by the attitude of the dominant Hungarians (the Magyars) in general, Hungary is hardly lively to share her morsel with her twin sister. The Hungarians now 6ay openly that Austria "has declared war upon them. "Az Est," the leading Magyar journal, which during the war has been censored more rigorously than any other, says:—"Austria has declared war on Hungary. This country, which has Hungary, and Hungary alone, to thank for not having been torn in pieces like a scrap of paper, has been in great haste to express once more her famous 'gratitude,' and in her Parliament ask s almost unanimously and without distinction of parties that our country should be partitioned- Rakoszy ana Kossuth were right in saying that Austria is Hungary's evil gemup. Austria it is, bloodthirsty vampire that slio is, which is dealing us the severest blow wo have ever received. The Turks, Tartars, Serbs, Roumanians, and Russians all drew their sword loyally, whereas Austria has always attacked us like a coward, all the time pretending to be our friend. Now; this implacable enemy is revealed once and for all, and we can seo her face with its expression of hideous wickedness and her eagerness to suck our blood."

These furious outbursts are by no means merely because the Austrians irant more food from Hungary than sho is disposod to give the a, but bpcause in and out ofParliament certain Austrian nationalities, tho Cssechs among them, demand their union with certain Hungarian nationaliaties of like race, and clamour for the dismemberment of the Hungarian monarchy on

t.W account. This makes the Magyars unspeakably wrath, for they, still verv powerful, nave hitherto governed all the Other races in Hungary with a rod of iron, without ever either consulting them or troubling either about their rights or their wishes. Austria's economic and financial straits, her extremely strained relations with Hungary, can hardly continue much longer, and the authorities aro now doing all in their power to pacify the people by holding out hopes of relief owing to the confusion in Russia. Apparently, moreover, the Emperor Karl and Count Czernin make it a rule to see an immense number of people, to listen to all sympathetically, and to make all think that thev have been favoured with snecial confidence, It is said that the Emperor received two different and opposed party leaders in succession, and after listening to what each had to say about the oilier party, told each that ho was right. A Minister who had been remarked to his Majesty that both could hardly bo right, whereupon the Emperor remarked: "You are right."

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr W H. Hagger, Conciliation Commissioner, leaves for Dunedin on Monday.

Mr J. 11. W. Uru, tho newly-elected member for the Southern Maori electorate, left for the North by last night's ferry steamer.

Mr A. L. Miiir, editor of the "Poverty Bay Herald," arrived in Christchurch yesterday, and returned North by the ferry steamer in the evening.

_ Lieut.-Colonel Fuller, Captain Spedding, the Rev. D. McNichol, and the Rov. A. H. Johns, wero passengers from Wellington by yesterday's ferry steamer.

The Dofonce authorities have confirmed tho appointment, as from January 19th, of Canon F. Feildcu Taylor, C.F., as' Principal Anglican chaplain at Treutham Military Camp.

Tim Rev. Albert La\vry_, ex-president of tho Methodist Conference, haß returned from Sydney, -where he attended the annual Board meeting of the Australasian Methodist Missionary Society.

Tho Rev. A, H. Scrivcns, an ex-Can-terbury representative Association footballer, who for the past four years has been stationed in GuinMj is at present on a holiday visit to Christchurch.

lila.inr F. Cameron, D.5.0., a son of Mifs H. Cameron, of Carter's terrace, Tinwald. has returned to Now Zealand. Major Cameron is attached to the R.A.M.C., and has seen service at Gallipoli, and on the Western front. Ho is expected to arrive in Ashburton in a few clays.

Mr E. C. Mouldey, of Christchurch, has received a cablo stating that his son, Lieutenant W. E. Mouldey, of the Lancashiro Fusiliers, is mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches for gallant and distinguished service on the field in France.

At the establishment of F. A. Cook, Ltd., last evening, Mr H. Last, who is leaving Christchurch, was presented with a case of pipes. In making the presentation on behalf of tho directorate and staff, Miss Townley wished the recipiont every success in tho future.

Mrs J. T. Rigby, 86 Fitzgerald street, St. Albans, has received word that her son, Sergeant J. H. Rigby, has been awarded the Military Modal for gallantry in tho field. Sergeant Rigby, who was a member of the staff of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency's Ilakaia branch beforo enlisting, left with tho 9th Roinforcoments.

Word was received last week by Mr J. W. Warren, of Greendale, that Trooper Johii F. Juggins, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, has been awarded tho Military Modal, and promoted to lancecorporal, for coolness and bravery during the recent extensive actions in Palestine. Trooper Juggins was in Mr Warren's employ, and enlisted from Greendale in April, 1915, leaving New Zealand with the 6th Reinforcements. He served on Gallipoli for nearly two months. His parents reside at Burleigh Hill, St. Ives, Huntingdonshire, England.

Mr John Logan Stout (son of Sir Robert Stout), recently appointed to the Bench, entered on his initial duties on' tho goldfields circuit last week. Prior to taking the business at Cromwell on "Wednesday, states the "Argus," Mr Brodrick, on behalf of the Bar, congratulated Warden Stout on his appointment, and welcomed him to Cromwell. Ho assured his Worship of the utmost assistance from the Bar. and hoped the relations between Bench and Bar would continue as harmoniously as in the past. In reply, Mr Stout was brief. He thanked Mr Brodrick for the welcome, and trusted everything would "run smoothly." The newlyappointed Warden also received a hoarty welcome in commencing the business at the Clyde Court.