GERMANY WITHIN

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1919, Page 2

GERMANY WITHIN

tAustralia A. N.Z Cable Association.)

THE BAVARIAN TROUBLE

BERLIN, Feb. 22

One report from Munich denies that there is civil war there. The workers have proclaimed a general strike. It. has been on for three days, but turbances have resulted.

SPAItTACUS RAID. AMSTERDAM, Feb. 20. The Spartacusians raided Duisburg Town Hall anl attempted to arrest the Burgomaster. They threw grenades at Belgian soldiers who intervened. Three Spartacusts were shot.

INTERESTING REPORTS

INVESTIGATIONS IN GERMANY

LONDON, February 22

The Supreme Allied Council for the supply of relief has published an interesting report compiled from observations of a number of British officers, who have been investigating conditions in Germany They vrslted Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig Dresden, Magdenburg and Cassel.

They asserted that labour unrest was diminishing owing to the firm attitude of Noske,,. Defence Minister, whose position was much strengthened against the Spartacists recently. The unemployed in Berlin is increasing by five housand idled daily. The total unemployed there is now over a hundred thousand.

At Hamburg the unemployed numbred, seventy-two thousand at Munich thirty two thousand and a Leipzig twen-ty-two thousand. The unemployment is stated to be due to the demobilisation of the Army and the munition workers, and also to the inability of the peace industries to get a start owing to lack of raw main a ter ial.

The unemployment is a most dangerous element in the present situation. A disappearance of unemployment and hunger would dispose of any chance of Bolshevism obtaining any real foothold in Germany.

Throughout Germany, except in the coalfields, the industries are stagnant, being completely shut down owing to lack of coal, while there is over a million tons of coal in Westphalia waiting at pit mouths for transport. The railways are crippled, owTiig to the enormous quantities of German rolling stock lost since November last owing to the armistice terms. At the same time the passenger traffic has been reduced twenty-one per cent below normal.

There is a shortage of staple foodstufFs. This is compelling the population to live on rations insufficient t.o nourish the body. Mothers and children are particularly affected by malnutrition. Diminished birth rate have been efciused, as well as a a new disease. It is believed foodstuffs will he sent and the revictualling of Germany is urgent. The country is living on capital as regards its food supplies. Either famine or Bolshevism or both, ,

will ensue before the next harvest, if outside help is not forthcoming.

There lias been no immediate revival of Germany’s military power. Thirty thousand tons of bacon and five thousand tons of condensed milk have been sent to Germany to dato by the British Government which has sold these "commodities to the Germans. It is believed foodstuffs will be exhausted as follows : —Breadstuffs in April next; potatoes in May next; fats on the thirty-first proximo. The meat ration can~be continued indefinitely; but- only if all the milch cows and breeding stock are slaughtered in the country. In certain areas it- is estimated that the exhaustion will occur earlier.

Moreover, given normal good weather, the coming German harvest is expected to yield only half the average pre-war crop.

COPENHAGEN, February 23. Berlin messages report that & general strike has begun at Bocliun. The Spartacuists have bombarded ithe mining establishment near Duisburg.

Government troops are marching into Muenater rfnd Dortmund owing to sanguinary disturbances there. Government troops have occupied Hawaii in Messe-Nassau and disarmed and arrested members of the Soldiers League. The situation in the Ruhr coal basin is still unsettled, though it is announced the strike lias been called off.

An official Berlin telegram, while announcing that the Ruhr Soviets have accepted the Gbvernment’s armistice terms, including a cessation of the srike and surrender of arms, states it- is doubtful whether the Spartacuists especially at Dusseldorf, can carry out the arrangement till March with a view to establishing order. At "Weimar the National Assembly has passed resolutions demanding a just peace and the union of Austria wi Germany.

BLOOD MONEY. (Received This Day at 8.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 21. A death list has been discovered among Dr. Liebkncclit’s papers, on which figured the names of prominent Gorman business men and jmlitical leaders. It is asserted that largo sums of money wore paid to Liebkneclu, by prominent people to prevent their names being put. down on the list. Liebknecht’s bank account showed twelve million marks on deposit.

MOBILISING SECURITIES. (Received This Dav at 0.25 a.m.) w AMSTERDAM, Feb. 20. T Germany is mobilising securities. Government announces that owing to the Entente’s refusal to deliver foodstutfs on credit, they are forced to take possession of all foreign securities now held in Germany. The mobilisation is now voluntary, but it will be compulsory at a lower price if the response is not sufficient.