Central Powers

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 27 December 1916, Page 5

Central Powers

GERMANY'S TROUBLES. REVOLUTIONARIES ACTIVE. Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, December 25. The Daily Chronicle's Amsterdam correspondent recounts a remarkable conversation between a German of high official status and a Dutch visitor. The German admits that Germany is beaten by starvation, not by arms. This is England's doing alone. He admits that the only mistake was that the German fleet was not large enough. In the next triumph she will create a fleet that will annihilate England. It was for this that she has carefully preserved her fleet in the present war. Germany now, after some show of hypocritical diplomatic resistance, will concede every British demand, even abandoning her allies and giving up the Kaiser, but on the day peace is signed she will prepare for England. He added that great masses of workers in Germany regard the new compulsory civilian work with the deepest suspicion and distrust. Frequent huge demonstrations of workers at Essen, Cologne and other centres demanded an immediate increase in wages to meet the high prices. Sudden strikes in various directions indicate that, despite all repression, workmen are beginning to secretly reorganise against the general severity of the conditions.

It is understood that the Government's projected wholesale compulsory municipal feeding is intended not only to. control stocks of food to the best advantage, but to liberate an immense number of women from domestic work for labor of a direct national or military character. This combing out is expected to provide another million soldiers of one sort or another. Some neutral travellers from Hamburg say that Germany is undergoing a process of rapid decay. Every morning the Hamburg authorities destroy thoiisands of placards inscribed: "The people are/dying of hunger. We want peace! Down with the war!" At Berlin a revolution is knocking at the door, and it is difficult for the police to maintain Order. The streets are daily, filled with women protesting, threatening, and demanding the end of »e war. There were food riots* in Dresden on the 17th. 18th, and 19th insfc. Women formed processions in • the streets and stoned the' food shops, which were closed owing to the lack of supplies. They passed the King's palace shouting: "We'want food!" Several women were arrested for using insulting language about the King. The trouble culminated on the 19th. when the agitators had a sharp conflict with the police. ' A hundred women were wounded in the charge.

GENERAL ITEMS. The New York Tribune says it has the highest authority for the statement that Austria is near secession owing to acute economic stress. Britain proves that before peace was offered President Wilson was told that the Kaiser still bad a big card to play. Britain knows what that card is. The Luxemburg Cabinet has resigned owing to the passing of a noconfidence vote arising from the shortage of food supplies. Holland has signed a treaty undertaking to supply Germany with milk, nuts, eggs and fruit. The Kaiser's Christmas message to the troops stated: "Honor God above and peace on earth."