GERMAN CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 61, 6 December 1918, Page 5

GERMAN CRISIS

SOVIETS UNABLE TO GRAPPLE WITH SITUATION MENACE OF BOLSHEVISM The Hague, December 3. The whole of tho German Press complains of the inability of the Soviets or the Executive Committee to carry out the practical . administrative work. In the various Socialist groups there is nothing but discussion, and clubs are involved in fierce quarrels. The "Deutsche Tages. Milling" says: "If misrule continues liolshevism will finally triumph." Under tho heading "Tho Berlin Witches* Cauldron," the Cologne "Volkszeitung" describes an oxtremelv rowdy meeting of the Berlin Soldiers' 'Council, revealing many scandals connected with revolutionary methods of administration. II also disclosed that officers burned important documents which had recently arrived from Brussels, showing tho old ircgime'6 responsibility for the war. Tho discussions became so healed that Iho Bavarian, Baden, and Alsace delegates withdrew, declaring thnt tho Berlin Council had adopted terrorism. The Baden representatives subsequently were induced (o return.

The situation at Bremen grows more acute, and it is typical of much that is. happening in industrial centres, where extreme coinniumisin is gaining ground. A Eadical Socialist named Knief, .addressing an open-air demonstration, advocated a class war. Ho declared that: tho establishment of the National Assembly was only to help tho bourgeoisie to regain supremacy. The workers must havo their own army to secure predominance and disarm ' the bourgeoisie, which was collecting on the ruins of tho old army for the purpose of asserting its claims.

By a majority (ha meeting voted against the summoning of the Nationnl Assembly, nnd unanimously approved of tho arming of the proletariat. A subsequent meeting of the Bremen Sokjiers' Council was twice interrupted by extremists from tho streets, where n huge and threatening crowd had assembled. Knief secured order. The Council voted by 7 to 56 in favour of tho National Assembly, and it also rejected tho proposal to disarm the bourgeoisie and arm the proletariat by 100 votes lo 19. The announcement of this decision oulsido evoked roars cf "Shame!" but.tlicchairman explained that the vote was. necessary for "the finite of the country's food.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. TENSION EASIER. Stockholm, December 3. The tension in Berlin has somewhat eased ns the result of tho decision lo convoke the National Assembly. Herr Branting (Socialist leader) has telegraphed to Jlerr Ebert approving the Assembly, and stating that he hopes it will produce a union of parties and stability of administration. A meeting of 1000 officers in Berlin, representing the noncoms, of the Army and Navy, passed a motion declaring that tooth services were determined to help the Government to combat Bolshevism.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RED FLAG HAULED DOWN PRO-KAISER SPEECHES. (Bee. December 5, 9.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, December i. The "Rhenische Westfalische Zeitung" reports that Kaiser-true soldiers twice hauled down the red flag from the' Stadhnus at Kreuznach and burned it amidst the cheers of the crowds, who applauded the pro-Kaiser speeches. In order to avoid bloodshed t.he Workers' and Soldiers' Council has resolved provisionally not to again hoist the red flag.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. I DRASTIC DECISION BY SOVIET AT LEIPZIG. (Rec. December 5, 8.10 p.m.) Copenhagen, December 4-. The Soviet at Leipzig has decided that the German Army Headquarters shall be dissolved and von Hindenburg arrested — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reu.ter. eiNDENBURGAPPEAIS FOR PATIENCE BIG LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME HELD OUT. (Rec. December 5, 9.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, December i. Von Hindenburg has issued a proclamation to the troops appealing for patience "a little longer." Ho announces that the preliminary arrangements for land settlement on a big scale have begun, and will be expedited. It will provide for building out of the public funds at low rates hundreds of thousands of houses upon cheaply-acquired land for farmers and gardeners. Similarly the Government is building houses in garden suburbs for town workers, including those in sedentary employments.—Aus.-• N.Z. Cable Assn. FIELD ARMIES WILL SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT. (Rec. December 5, 7.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, December 4. At a meeting of delegates of tho German field n.rniies it was resolved to support the Government- against counterrevolutionary attempts.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FOOD CRISIS DEVELOPING (Rec. December 5, 7.30' p.m.) Amsterdam. December i. The food situation in Berlin is rapidly becoming more serious. The prico of meat has advanced six marks since Friday. Thousands of legless and rrmless war cripples are to be seeu on the outskirts of the city, but they are not allowed to enter, evidently for fear Ihat (heir pitiful appearance will inflame the. popiir lace—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN ARMY IN THE EAST REPETITION OP 1812 FEARED. Copenhagen, December 3. The German People's Commissary, Herr Harlh. deplored the situation of the Army in the Easl, which he feared may suffer tho fate of Napoleon's army in 181-2.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .. [A cable message published last week stated: "The situation on the German Eastern trout is desperate. More than half a million German soldiers are marching through ice. snow, and mud to reach any railway station, while thousands of Russians liom Germany are monopolising railway trains and rolling slock. The Russians are without food, have insufficient clothes, and a.re plundering the food stores as they go along. There is great paiiic all along the routes."] PRO-GERMAN PRESS IN AMERICA WHAT HAPPENED TO TROTSKY IN 1916. (Rec. December 5, 7.10 p.m.) New York, December 4. Giving evidence before tho Senate Committee which is investigating pro-German Press activities. Ma-. Arthur Gabrycl, vice-president of the American Association of Foreign Language Newspapers, said that it was an open secret that Ixmis Ilemmci'ling, the association's president, was in German pay. Trotsky in 1911! visited him iGabrycl) at his ollice, demanding his money or his life. Gn'brycl threw'him downstair-', cutting his hand on his rubber collar.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.