CHAOS IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 December 1918, Page 5

CHAOS IN GERMANY.

METAL STOCKS ON HAND. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 18. The Ministry of Munitions announces that stocks of important metals on Ist December, exclusive of old metal scrap, are: Copper 27,530 tons, spelter 25,312, aluminium 10,215 soft pig lead 49,111, nickel 1735, and antimony 3303. Similar announcements will be made on the first of every month. Large quantities of scrap, mainly brass, are in stock. The Ministry cancels a large number of orders restricting dealings -with non-ferrous metals. CO-ORDINATING- DEMOBILISATION EFFORTS. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, Dee 19. Sir Erie Geddes has been appointed to co-ordinate the activities af the various Government Departments regarding demobilisation. AN AERIAL STUNT. Received 8.45 a.m, LONDON, Dec. 19. f Macewan’s Handlcy-Page machine has arrived at Rome. SERIOUS EIRE RAGING IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, this day. A serious fire is raging in George., Street, in the heart of the shopping centre. The fire appears to involve the Crown Studios, Roberts’ Hotel, and a portion of • Farmers ’ Drapery Stores. BOLSHEVISTS ACTIVITIES AMONG BRITISH TROOPS. v Received '9.30 a.m. LONDON, December 19. Mr. Pirrie Robinson states Bolshevist agents formerly in England are making an organised effort to tamper with British troops. The Army authorities are well aware of what is going on, but there is no evidence that their efforts are likely to meet with the smallest success. HAIIG ENTERS COLOGNE. Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 19. I Sir Douglas Haig visited Cologne, where he was received with military honours. He presented each war correspondent with a Union Jack similar to the flag flown on his motor-car, ALLIES ASKED TO OCCUPY BERLIN. The Main says; Reports still persist that the Ebert Government has entreated the Allies to occupy Berlin.

ALLIES. INVITED TO BERLIN. Corrupting Bolshevist Activity. Marshal Haig Enters Cologne. ■wn.u Co-ordinating Demobilisation. First Going First to Return.

EBERT DECLARES FOR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. I THE HAGUE, Dec. 19| Ebert, addressing a crowd in Berlin, declared war on the Bolsheviks saying that the existing (state of things must not continue. The business of the whole country, even the impending peace, was at stake. The Government must be able to continue Imperial business or repudiate responsibility. The”people’s defence force was being formed to render a National Assembly safe. The Government was determined to oppose all attempts to interfere with [the (National Assembly. -which should be called within a month. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ASSURED. LONDON, December 20 ' . B'erlin newspapers, lahnost without exception declare that the first day session of the congress of representatives of the Soldiers ’ arid Workmen’s Councils made a National Assembly a certainty. LEAGUE OF NATIONS. AMERICAN OPINION. WASHINGTON, Dee. 18. Senator Knox, in the Senate, said the widest diversity of opinion exists on the question of a League of Nations and the definition of “freedom of! Ith e seas”; therefore the questions ought to be postponed till after the Peace Conference. The Peace- Conference would settle the issue with the enemies. A League of Nations was- a domestic matter for Allied and neutral consideration. Instead of such, a league, a definite entente between nations naturally allied was preferable. The better plan was that the United States should agree that any menace to Europe’s liberties was oqtavaleufy to (a menace to America’s and the United States should behave accordingly. GERMAN PROPAGANDA IN U.S. WASHINGTON, Dec. IS , The Senate committee which, is investigating German propaganda discovered that Yon Papen’s papers provided for a German U-boat war against Holland and Scandinavia. GERMAN THIEVES. WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. The State Department has learned that a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of goods were stolen from the American Legation at Bucharest, apparently by Germans. BRITISH IN COLOGNE. . FIRM ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. LONDON POLICEMEN AT WORK. LONDON, Dec. 19. Mr Phillips, writing from Cologne, says: The city is beginning to realise th'at British law must not bo trifled ‘Over -forty men and women have been fined ten marks or seren days for bei ig al-oard after 9 o’elude at night without a pass. Many British military pebee are old Metropolitan constables : no use the same firm but courteous methods. The proceedings in court are scrupulously fair, though calm aid there is no bullying. The first offenders were detained near the British Governor’s headquarters. They failed to realise the British police’s seriousness when asked to produce passes, but succumbed to ( the bullying questions of German de- I tcctivc interpreters. >

A MINISTER RESIGNS. i MELBOURNE, Dec. 20. In the Senate, Mr. Long tendered his resignation, maintaining his innocence in connection with the Shaw wireless purchase. THE PORT DARWIN RIOT. TROUBLE CAUSED BY PRICE OF BEER. | BRISBANE Dec. 20 Trouble at Port Darwin has been seething for weeks, over the increased price oi| beer. Hotels have been boycotted during the past fifteen days. During the riot firearms and bludge- i ons were freely used. Dr. Gilxuth managed to escape after a rough handling. The town is now quiet. REVOLUTION IN BULGARIA. AMSTERDAM, Dec. 18 The “Lokal Anzeigcr” reports that a revolution has broaen out in Bulgaria. THANKS TO THE ARMY. LONDON, December 20. Regarding the suggestion that there ought to have been a vote of thanks to the army, it was felt that the King’s address before prorogation expressed the nation’s gratitude to the fighting services in a formal and admirable manner, and the proper occasion for Parliament’s tthanks was when the new Parliament assembled POLAND BREAKS WITH GERMANY. COPENHAGEN, Dec. 18 The secctariat of Poland has severed relations with Germany on the 1 ground that the Germans planned the revolution in Poland with the aid of Russian Maximalists. THE AIR MINISTRY. LONDON, December 19. The Press Bureau states: The report that the Air Ministry is ending its activities is without foundation. ! FRENCH GENEROSITY. MELBOURNE, Dec. 20. General Pau, on behalf of the French I mission, donated £IOOO to the widows and orphans of Australian soldiers. CABLE BREVITIIES. 1 Received 9.30 a.m. LONDON, Dec 19. The Ministry of Information has wound up its affairs. The Daily Express states the Air | Force, which will bo an independent I force in future, and will bo admin- ( istered by the War Office, j Lord Weir has resigned.

INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

SIX MILLION DEATHS. A TERRIBLE TWELVE WEEKS. INFLUENZA PLAGUE RIVAS THE BLCK DEATH. (Reuter, via America.) ) LONDON, Dec. 20. C The Times medical correspondent believes that six million people died of influenza and pneumonia during the last twei evweks. The plague therefore was five times more deadly than the war, ever siace the ‘Black Death’ had such a plague swept the world. India’s loss was three millions. No medical authority w r as certain that any conclusion had yet been reached. Possibly the oragnlsml) was still tm * covered. Indications were that infection occurred by contact, not through the air