THE AUSTRIAN VASSAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 July 1918, Page 7

THE AUSTRIAN VASSAL.

Austro-Hungarian military forces are not taking parf in Hindenburg's expedition towards Petrograd. Tile Prussian Press is at great pains to assure the German public that no wrong conclusions should be drawn from' this circumstance. The army organ, Kreuz-Zeitung (Gazette of the Cross) says:— "If Austria-Hungary leaves the present military tasks to the German Empire, this is in consequence of a friendly understanding. There is no cause whatever for any sensitiveness on our part. The obstention of Aus-tro-Hungarian troops from the new campaign in the east is indeed iii stiict accordance with the policy which we have repeatedly reommended as being in,the interest of good allied relations. That is, military operations, where essentially German aima are being pursued, must be exclusively our affair, in order that the impresion shall not arise in Austro-Hungary that her army is fighting for foreign objects." This remarkable statement is the j Geiman semi-official mode of announc-1 ing that Austria-Hungary is not to be I allowed to have any finger in the Rus. I sian pie. I