PEACE MOVEMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 October 1918, Page 5

PEACE MOVEMENT.

ALLIED CONGRESS HELD /IN PARIS. TO DISCUSS GERMAN OFFERS.^ PARIS, Oct 28. Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Balfour, accompanied by naval and military officers, have arrived, and arc attending a council of the Allied and associated Governments, Premiers, foreign Ministers, and field commanders. The first question awaiting decision is whether the associated Governments will reply through President Wilson to Germany’s latest Note, or will wait until Germany sends parlementaires to General Foch to ask for an armistice. Whatever course he decided upon there is no doubt the Allies and probably the associated Governments will agree to exact practical surrender.

AUSTRIA’S APPLICATION. LONDON, Oct 28. The Foreign Office has received Austria’s application for an armistice. BREAK-UP OF AUSTRIA. “THE DAY OP PEACE IS APPROACHING.” BERNE, Oct 28. Reliable information states that all the Austrian Grand Dukes are taking refuge in Godollo Castle, near Budapest. Students in Budapest demonstrated in Parliament, calling for the expulsion of all Germans. AUSTRIAN CABINET RESIGNS. LONDON, Oct 28 The Austrian Cabinet has resigned. Lammasch has been appointed Premier. KARL’S message to army and NAVY. AMSTERDAM, Oct 29. Emperor Karl, in an order to the army and navy, urgently appeals to their loyalty during the present grave confusion. He says: The day of peace is approaching-. KARL NOT WANTED. AMSTERDAM. Oct 28. The “Yossiche Zeitung” announced that the Burgomaster of Szegedin officially requested the Emperor Karl and the Empress to postpone their proposed visit fjine die, as the local authorities were unable to guarantee personal safety. , (Szegedin is a royal free town of Hungary. It stands at the confluence of the Maros with the Theiss, 118 miles by rail south-east of Budapest.) NOTE REGARDED AS CAPITULATION. LONDON, Oct 28. The Franco-Italian Press regard the Austrian Note, as dramatically changing the whole situation, bringing peace appreciably nearer. Few expected the Dual Monarchy’s breakup so quickly. The prevailing impression is that it is now merely a question of time how quickly Ger- ( many will be compelled to follow. “Intransigent” says Germany has now nothing left except her own rap-idly-waning strength. PARIS, Oct 28. Austria’s Note is tantamount to actual capitulation. Thus the Central Alliance Mittel ■ Zuropa disappears. ROME, Oct 28. The “Tribune” states that AustriaHungary was never a nation; it was merely an army upholding the dynasty. The British Press is more restrained. While gratified at the startling week-end turn of events, the majority point out that there is no sign of a changed heart or even a pretence of repentance, as far as Germany is concerned, There is a growing instance that no safe peace is possible while the Kaiser remains.

The “Standard” says that the Kaiser, by a scratch of the pen, can destroy the new constitution and restore Ludendorff and the U-boat ruthless submarining. Recalling that the Kaiser is a notorious coward, the “Standard” thinks this characteristic may prove a vital factorMn the next few days.

The “Star” states that negotiations have reached a point of intense delicacy. The Press must not embarrass the momentous Allied Council.

LUDEND ORFF ’ S RE SIGNATION COPENHAGEN, October 2S . Ludendorff has returned to take farewell of the army. His resignation is due to the placing o f‘ the military authorities under civilian control. Ludendorc at first eagerly recommended' an armistice as he considered the German army’s position was desperate Later, Ludondorg modified his view end attempted to interfere with the Government’s policy.

LUDENDORFF’S . SUCCESSOR. BERNE October 28. It is reported that General von Steckt, formerly Mackensen’s chief of staff has'succeeded Ludendorff. Von Lossberg succeeds Ludendorff.. REASON FOR LUDENDORFF’S FALL. LONDON, October 28. General Maurice, writing in the “Daily News,” says: Ludendorff’s resignation means the defeat of the “bitter unders. ’' The ‘German staff has been forced to accept the peace policy.

The “Tageblatt denounces the PanGerman intention to issue a pronunciamcnto by Prussian generals headed by Ludendorff, designed to prevent the Reichstag reforms.

“Vorwaerts” boasts that Ludendorff fell because he attempted to dictate the policy. The latest German news suggests that Ludendorff was thrown overboard while attempting a military d’etat in Berlin. His dismissal created extraordinary excitement, Berliners thinking, it a prelude to the Kaiser’s abdication. The wildest stories arc current regarding supposed quarrels between the Kaiser, Hindenburg and Ludendorff respecting abdication, in the course of which the Kaiser retorted: “Your dispute as to the funeral is rather tedious to the corpse.” “The Frankfurter Zeitung” corroborates the coup d'etat' theory, stating that the military party attempted, but failed, to upset the Government. A correspondent at The Hague points out that although the Kaiser reluctantly allowed Ludendorff to go, the actual power still remains with the army leaders. The coup d’etat may yet succeed, if there is sufficient army backing.

FINANCIAL PANIC IN BERLIN. AUSTRIA'S CAPITULATION MAKES POSITION HOPELESS. Received 11.25 a.xn. AMSTERDAM, Oct 29. Berlin reports a financial panic for jSeveral days. Bankers are appealing to the public not i;q withdraw deposits and not to hoard the currency. Many newspapers accuse Xudendorff of endeavouring to create a military conspiracy against the Reichstag, and regard him as a scapegoat, tor the Hohenzollerns.

ERZEBERGER LUDENDORFF’S SPECIAL ENEMY.

“I WILL GET HIM YET!” LUDENDORFF A WAVERER. KAISER CALMLY WATCHING EVENTS.— Received 11.25 a.m, LONDON, Oct 29. The “Daily Chronicle’s” Amsterdam correspondent states Erzeherger was Ludendorff’s special enemy. The Centre Deputy has long been intent on getting Ludendorff’s scalp. Recently he said in the Reichstag lobby. “I will get him yet!” Ludendorff’s nerves are badly shaken, and he vacillated continually between peace and war, and opposed Hindenburg when the latter informed Hertling and the Government that political changes were necessary in order to approach President Wilson with peace offers. Later, Ludendorff advocated another gamble on the West front, including sending out the fleet. The Kaiser is watching events calmly, and is ready to resign if events necessitate it. He has os little use for democratic Germany as democratic Germany has for him. His permanent ideas and training alike unfit him for the position of a shadow monarch.

The “Lokal Anzeiger” points cut that Germany’s request is for armistice proposals instead of armistice conditions. This means Germany will negotiate with the Allies on a footing of equality. The Berlin Press declares the successful resistance on the Western front shows Germany can continue to fight if the armistice conditions are humiliating, but they admit Austria’s capitulation makes it hopeless to continue the fight. It insists the German army is unbeaten. The German Empress has suffered a serious heart relapse. GERMANY’S INTERNAL DANGER. STARTLING SCENES IN THE REICHSTAG. LONDON, October 28. Germany’s attitude in the immediate future is likely to be the outcome of internal, economic and political developments rather than military. The latest indication is the flaming speeches marking a red letter Reichstag sitting wherein other independents besides Lcdobonr and Cohn boldly hurled insults at the Kaiser, Ludendorff and Hindenburg, which, if uttered in 19.17, would have been followed by immediate imprisonment. 1 The Rhineland Social Democrats have issued a manifesto stating that if the Kaiser does not abdicate he 1

will bo removed. On the other hand,

the Junker Press continues vigorously to oppose abdication, even hinting at preference for civil war than sec an elected president of a German Republic AMSTERDAM, October 28.

In the Reichstag, the Independent Socialist Cohn, amid great commotion

and applause, declared: The alternatives are war with the Hohenzollerns or peace without the Hohenzollerns. We extend our hand to our friends beyond the frontiers in this struggle.

The Socialist Ruble said the Kaiser must abdicate. He was thereupon called to order, but retorted, “The call to order will not save the Kaiser from a criminal court.”

The Reichstag has appointed a commission to consider responsibility for the impeachment of the Chancellors, Foreign Ministers, and War Ministers during the war.

THE AUSTRIAN PEACE NOTES

INTERESTING SPECULATIONS IF AUSTRIA SURRENDERS UNCONDITIONALLY. Received 10.35 a.m. WASHINGTON, October 29 Much interest is being manifested in the German and Austrian Notes sent to President Wilson. The official, tjoxt of the Austrian Note has not yet been received. It is felt ,in official circles that if the Austrian Note means a complete capitulation Germany will be forced to recognise the hopelessness of her situation, and will be compelled to surrender unconditionally or continue the war under tremendously increased handicap. According to w r ell informed circles, if Austria surrenders it will mean that the Allies wall be able to enter the Dual Monarchy’s territory and use the railways there, thus attacking Germany in a vulnerable point. It is believed the Czechoslovaks will be ready to assist the Allies against Germany, who would be forced to withdraw troops from the west front in, order to protect her southern frontier. It is not expected Mr Wilson will reply to the latest German Note, the unofficial text of ■which does not differ from, the wireless

TURKEY OPENS PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

PRESIDENT WILSON HANDS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO ALLIED NAVAL AND MILITARY ADVISERS. Received 12.45. LONDON, Oct 29. A Central News’ telegram from Constantinople says Turkey has officially opened peace negotiations with the Entente. President Wilson has sent all the correspondence to Allied Ministers, naval and military advisers now in Paris, who are considering what terms of an armistice may be recommended to their respective Governments. . ' ■<

PEACE COMING NEAR. WAR RUSHING TO A CLOSE. GERMANY STANDS ALONE. U-BOATS CEASE OPERATIONS. Received 12.5 a.m. LONDON, October 29. The Daily Chronicle, despite contrary reports, states that the Germans have recalled the submarines. There has been a cessation of s fib marine warfare for four days. The impression in Parliamentary circles is. that the war is rushing to a close, and peace before Christmas is highly probable. It is inevitable that Parliament will be dissolved in a few weeks, and the dissolution may be expected to follow swiftly upon the armistice.

The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent suggests that polling day will be on November 23rd or 30th or December 7th.

Newspapers point out the importance of Austria pleading for a separate peace, further isolating Germany, and insist that Germany must herself seek terms for an armistice since the Allies are not proposing it, as Dr. Self’s Note to Mr. Wilson impudently 'suggests.