THE DEMOCRATISING OF GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 7

THE DEMOCRATISING OF GERMANY

"WATERING DOWN" THE KAISER'S PROPOSALS GREAT RIOTS IN THE CITIES Berne, April 11. llie official interpreters are watering, down the Kaiser's reform programme. J-hey insist that there is no intention to introduce manhood suffrage. Conservative correspondents declare that von Bethmann-Hollweg's Bill will not J* 11 to satisfy the Socialists and Radicals, and will contain many safeguards against the sudden democratisation of the franchise.' It will be the duty of the Conservatives to defend those.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REVOLUTIONARY MARCH IN DUSSELDORF TOWN HALL AT' AIX-LA-CHAPELLE . IN FLAMES. ' - London, April 11. There were serious riots at> Dusseldorf on Easter Sunday. Women munition workers formed a procession, singing revolutionary songs and demanding bread. Many, arrests were made. There were similar riots at Barmen, Elberfeld, Crefeld, Duisburg, Helefeld, Aix-la-Cliapelle, aud Essen. . The'commanders at Elberfeld and Barmen instructed the soldiers to use their firearms without warning in the future. Amsterdam, April 11. It is reported from the frontier that there were over two hundred casualties in the Aix-la-Chapelle riots. The Town Hall is in ilames.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 'Assn. ' ■ HAMBURG IN A STATE OF SIECE. ffiee. April 12, 9.20 p.m.) London, April 11. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Amsterdam states that the authorities in Germany fear that the disorders, which hitherto have been isolated, will become general. An outbreak at Hamburg is specially likely, and extraordinary measures have been taken to cope with the situation. The police- and the soldiers have taken possession, of the corner houses commanding all important streets, and machineguns have been installed. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CORRUPTION IN AUSTRIA MINISTER FOR WAR. RESIGNS. Amsterdam, 'April 11! , Efcports from Vienna state that the Minister for War (Ritter von Krobatin) has resigned, following revelations as to extensive corruption in the army. —Renter... . . . [A message received on Tuesday stated that the internal conditions of Austria-Hungary were illuminated by the trial of Dr. Kranz for corruption and peculation of army stores, for which he was heavily fined. This blow to public confidence has been increased by the arrest of five Prague' bankers on a charge of treason. "Prince Odescalchi committed suicide owing to imminent charges of corruption.] SIMMERING REVOLT IN. BULGARIA DISSATISFACTION WITH THE GERMANS London, April 11. Renter's correspondent at French Headquarters in Macedonia says that, according' to reliable information, owing to popular 1 dissatisfaction with tlie Germans, rioting has broken out in several towns in Bulgaria, especially in Sofia, where the German cavalry charged the crowd. During the first of these demonstrations, which are spreading, there were numerous casualties. The Bulgarian , troops in some cases sided with the population and refused to attack the demonstrators, and even joined them.—Renter.