GERMAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 96, 17 January 1919, Page 5

GERMAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING

RECONSTRUCTED PARTIES

PLATFORMS OF THE GROUPS

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ' (Rec. January 16, 7.20 p.m.) London, January 15. Renter's correspondent at Berlin states that the National Assembly election campaign is in full swing. The revolution has greatly changed the old parties. The four main groups are, broadlv, Conservatives, Centralists. Liberals, and Socialists, but all are sailing under new flags. The Majority Socialist programme emphasises that the party only supported a defensive war. The Independents, will eo-operato with the Moderate Socialists at Munich, but not in Berlin, where the Independents include a more or less' strong left wing, namely, Communists, under Liebknecht. The Liberals have also had a split, their left wing, which is the strongest, comprising the German Democratic Party and real Liberals from the. former National Liberal Party, while the right wing comprises the- majority of the former National Liberals and some Conservatives and Radicals. This wing calls itself the German People's Party. The main plank of the left wing Liberals is a republic based on the sovereignty of the people. _'fhe right wing pleads for capitalistic interests. The Centralists now call themselves the Christian People's Party, and while upholding Catholic interests, are generally democratic. The old Conservative Party includes the Christian Socialists, the Pan-Ger-mans, the Fatherlanders, and the AntiSemites, and calls itself the German National People's Party. It adheres to the idea of a monarchy and aims at a bloc with the Centre. —Renter.

THE CHANGES OF THE SOCIALISTS'-' London, January 14. 'The "Daily Express's" Berlin correspondent interviewed Herr Haase, who declared that the elections for the National Assembly would be held, but the venue was not yet decided. Herr Haase expressed the opinion that the Majority Socialists would not be in the majority unless they combined with the Independents. He added that all the factories will be controlled by Soviets, although the -trade unions will continue. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BAVARIAN ASSEMBLY ELECHONS

BIG MAJORITY FOR THE BOURGEOISIE.

(Reel January 16, 7.20 p.m.) Amsterdam, January 15. The primary elections for the Bavarian National Assembly resulted iri a Bourgeoois majority of two hund-red thousand over the combined votes polled by the Independents and the Socialists.—Reuter. ' ,

SPARTACUS STRONGHOLDS CLEARED'

London, January 13. A Berlin wireless report states that the Spartacus strongholds in the Press quarter of. Berlin were cleared after a sharp battle. The casualties were high, and were .increased by the action of the Spartacusians in court-martiallms; and snooting Government troops, which necessitated reprisals. \ Tho report that Rosar Luxemburg was arrested is unconfirmed. Fighting for the Silesiau railway station and other places.cqmmunicating with it ,is still going on.—Aus.-N.Z. .Cable Assn. Copenhagen, January 13. * The Spartacusians. evacuated several Buildings in tho newspaper quarter of Berlin on Sunday night, and departed unmolested after laying down their, arms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. REBELS REPULSED AT DRESDEN TUMULTUOUS SCENES IN STUTTGART. Amsterdam, January 13. The Spartacusians in Dresden tried tp rush tho "Volkszeitung" offices, but the Government troops repulsed them. They also tried to capture the Guildhall, but were again repulsed. _ They were ejected 'from the "Kreuzzeitung" offices, but overturned the newscarts and burned their contents. '.

The Bolsheviks in Stuttgart captured the Town Hall, and there were tumultuous scenes all night and much firing, causing some . casualties.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.