IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 5

IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH

BOLSHEYIKI TOTTERING' FOOD FOR THE ALLIES AMERICA ASKED FOR MORE WHEAT FURTHER STRIKES IN AUSTRIA Speeches by the Gorman Chancellor and tho Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister on the subject of peace take a prominent place in the news to-day, and it is stated, also that the Government of the Dual Monarchy is making overtures to the United States with a view - to peace. An unconfirmed report from Russia alleges that Austria has offered to conclude peace separately. Count Hertling's .speech is an unashamed assertion of Pan-German views. He declares, for instance, that Germany intends to use Belgium and Northern France as pawns m peace negotiations, and that Alsace-Lorraine will never bo surrendered. In Britain the speech is denounced as insolent, bombastic, and arrogant. In America it is taken to mean that the militarists still control German diplomacy. Count Czernin's pronouncement on behalf of Austria-Hungary is much milder in tone, but it is suggested that both Ministers are working to a common Plan, and aim at dividing the Allies. Serious rioting is reported in ' erlrn and there are further messages dealing with strikes in the Dual Monarchy. One speaker at a representative Labour gathering 111 \ lenna is said to have declared that the strikes are only the hminary skirmish m great labour struggles. Official reports describe splendidly effective work by Brit ish airmen in the Western theatre. Sixteen enemy machines were destroyed as against the loss of one aeroplane, numerous raids liavo been made upon the . enemy's communications and upon Mannheim and other centres a lon- • way inside the German frontier. Mr. Bonar Law is reported as stating in tho House of Commons that Sir William Robertson and to Douglas Haig possess, the full confidence of tho Government