Central Powers

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 7, 2 December 1916, Page 5

Central Powers

COMPULSION OF CIVILIANS. Press Association—Copyright, Austra linn ami N.Z. Cable Association ; Amsterdam, November dO. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, continuing lus s]>oecli in the Reichstag, said: “We are ready to terminate the war by peace, safeguarding our existence and our future.” General von Stein (Minister of War). Dr. Helfforicli (the Treasurer), and the Minister of the Interior (Herr Bassermann) strongly endorsed the Bill.

General Greener made a sensation in the*Reichstag by crying: “T promise that just as Roumania has fared, so England will fare, too; then later, the whole hunch.” Herr von Bcthniann-Hollwog, indicated that voluntary means would be utilised for carrying out the mass levy before compulsion was applied. Speakers generally approved the Bill, but a resresentativo Socialist minority declared that the. party 10jeeted the measure because it deprived the workmen of the right to choose their place of abode. Even it the enemy wore in Germany he could not treat the population worse than the Bill proposed. Those views aroused great commotion and angry protests.

CHANCE IN TREATMENT OF

PRISONERS

WORKING FOR GERMANY.

New York, December I

The New York Times’ Berlin correspondent states that owing to the disclosures relative to the German prison camps, he visited W ittenberg and others. Of the vast number of prisoners less than 30 per cent, are in the camps. Owing to a sweeping change in the system, prisoners are now enaged on productive work, and it is estimated that 75 per cent, are working mostly in country districts, either voluntarily or compulsorily, under farming-out system, and they receive wages. The majority are engaged in agricultural pursuits and road-building, while others are at factories and all kinds of businesses, thereby greatly adding to Germany s war productiveness. Noticeably, many Englishmen, particularly noncommissioned officers, flatly i efuse <jO work, preferring harder conditions, because they cannot reconcile working for the enemy with the pride they feel as soldiers of the King,