SPECTRE OF STARVATION.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 July 1918, Page 6

SPECTRE OF STARVATION.

DESPERATION IN AUSTRIA. GERMAN GREED BLAMED. LONDON, June 20. The Arbeiter Zeitung states that Vienna has been without food for •weeks, except for bread, and that last week there was bread on two days only. Boys, and girls, under-sized, and thin as shadows, are begging bread. Serious riots are reported from Vienna. Crowds broke into bakeries, and they also forced their way into the residence of the Premier, Dr. von Seidlcr. Stones were thrown on to the Palace, It is reported from Copenhagen that great crowds of foodless and excited workers are parading Vienna in a threatening manner.

The Mayor, Herr Weisskirchner, has announced that he will not be responsible for any outbreak arising from the sudden lowering of rations. The Austrian press generally blames the ambitions, callousness, and selfishness of Germany.

A Basle message from Vienna reports ■ that the Workers' Council, recognising that the amelioration of tho food situation is impossible . while the war continues, has sent a demand to .the Foreign Minister to promote peace based on no annexations, no indemnities, and a league of nations. The correspondent of the Times ,at The Hague states that the excitement in Vienna is spreading all over the country, and is regarded as the most dangerous since the beginning of the war.

Berlin } s excuses only infuriate the ptee°]? le z "wfco believe that Germany se-

..i-ed through a diplomatic trick the Dulk of the Ukraine plunder. ' The New Free Press states that the population will be obliged to exist till August on a little more than salads and vegetables. The correspondent of the Times at Amsterdam states that cavalry was called in to stop the riots in Vienna. It is expected that martial law will be proclaimed. LABOUE AGAIN DEMANDS PEACE. Keuter's correspondent at Amsterdam reports that telegrams from Vienna and Berlin show that the Austrian food crisis is reaching a climax Dr. Ludwig Paul, Austrian Pood Min-

ister, interviewed' on the subject of the reduction of the bread ration, said j that only the most deplorable circum- ' stances compelled such a drastic meas- i ure # Meetings of the Vienna City Coun- ■ cil and the Labour Council protested 1 against the reduction most vigorously, i The latter renewed its demand for a ( speedy general peace. i The Austrian Premier, Dr. von Sei- c dler, told a Socialist deputation that -\ everything imaginable had been done to avoid the reduction in the T3read ration. c Austria's stocks of beef were ex- j hausted, and she was dependent on e imports from Ukraine and Bessarabia, f but the deliveries were interrupted. c A semi-official B'erlin agency appends

to the report of Dr. von Seidler's statement a note that the supply of ■ bread or grain from Germany is out of the question.

GERMANY'S PROMISE BROKEN,

The Cologne Zeitung reports that Dr. Paul has arrived in Berlin and conferred with the War Food Department, and adds that it is declared t ■authorijtatively that Germany nevler promised to supply grain to Austria from her own stocks. Germany herself has been compelled to reduce the bread ration.

The Vienna City Council, in a statement regarding the reduction of the bread ration, says that Germany promised some weeks ago to supply the Austrian army and civilians with meal including German stocks. The situation is most acute in Prague, Brunn, and Galicia.

Urgent telegrams were sent ot Ludendorff, besides others previously mentioned, and the Ambassador at Berlin made representations.

Urgen telegrams were sent to Lud received arT unexpected notification of the reduction of the bread ration he refused resonsibility for order in Vienna, and requested. a£ least peas and beans. This was refused. Then he again telegraphed to Berlin and Munich asking for potatoes.