Austro-Germany.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1915, Page 5

Austro-Germany.

! THE POWER OF GERMANY. ' DO WE PvEALISE JIJiR ST'tESJTIi? A KiX'TIIAL AUTUUIfS VWARX.LNJ. (Times and Sydney Sun Servic..,.) Heceived June tS, ti p.m. London, June 27-. A neutral author writes, as a result of a visit to Germany, that Jie docs Jiot 'believe the British have any;-idea of what they are up against. While Kngland is talking munitions Germany is asking,. and is especially concentrating on high explosive shells of increased size. The English often ask what the German Socialists are doing to stop the war. ,\lost of them are fighting, and a Berlin magnate said: "Our Socialists are a useful humbug to the English and do us no harm." The Allies might with advantage copy the Germans, hour «r five nii'ii are entrusted with absolute power to order and get things done, while every day spent in discussion gives .the Germans time. He adds: "We neutrals fear England underrates her cunning foe, and does not realise that Germany is always plotting for mechanical and chemical surprises. We take the whole thing too easily. In little practical ways the Germans are learning from the mistakes of the war made by England. The soldiers spend much time in marching and moving ahout throughout Germany, and half-recovered wounded non-coms, are lecturing and teaching the soldiers exactly what to expect at the front. There is little marching, the instruction heing chiefly learning how to hide, how to handle machine-guns, make concrete, bury barbed wire—one of the new forms of German defence —and other practical things. I believe 'Germany's equipment has been entirely) revolutionised."

THE PEACE QUESTION. FINDS APPROVAL IN GERMANY. Received June 20, 2 a.m. Rotterdam, June 28. The Vorwaertz's manifesto lias created rage and consternation in ollicial circles. The peace question is eagerly discussed and generally approved in Germany, though not publicly for fear of pumsiiment. HOW GRUMBLERS ARE DEALT WITH. Received June 28, 11.40 a.m. London, June 28. A nceutral correspondent, writing to the Daily Chronicle, says strikes in German war lactones are unknown because grumblers are promptly sent to the hottest pomts in the iirnig line.

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA CONFER. FAILURE OF DERNBUWS .MISSION. PRIDE IN THE USE OF GASES. Amsterdam, June 27. Ilerr von BeUimanu-iioliweg and ilcrr .von Jagow are conferring \,itn Xiuruu Burian, Austrian Minister oi Foreign Affairs, at \ ieiuia. There is much speculation in view oi the recent peace uilk in Germany and the financial situation. Copenhagen, June 27. Hcrr Dernburg, interviewed at Christiania, gladly admitted that lie was splendidly treated in British waters, and ■added smilingly: "They can Le gentlemen over there." Herr Dernburg's return is commented on in the German press somewhat coolly, implying that his mission is regarded as having failed. , Amsterdam, June 27. The Cologne Gazette, in a semi-official statement in defence of the use of asphyxiating gases, says: "The basic idea of The Hague agreement was the prevention of unnecessary cruelty and unnecessary killing when milder methods of putting out of action were possible. It lias always been permissible to compel the evacuation of positions by flooding. Those who were not indignant and surprised when water was used as a weapon aga.nst us in Flanders are not entitled to be indignant when we employ air to carry stupefying gases. The Hague Convention desired to prevent wholesale destruction of human lives without a chance of escape, which occurs if poisonous*gas shells are rained down on a defenceless eneriiy who cannot see them coming and is irremediably exposed thereto. The changed forms of warfare make new methods .continually necessary, and since in this Avar w 7 e must draw conclusions from the conditions of trench warfare, the enemy's outcry is only due to incapacity to emulate the results of German science." The North German Gazette, in announcing the suppression of the, Vorwaerts for publishing the manifesto of the Socialist leaders, says the manifesto shows how German Socialists have done their duty in the fight for Germany's national independence and how the great masses of Socialists in England and France belonging to the International Union have decided to continue the war hand in hand with their Governments, which are united for the complete conquest of Germany. Notwithstanding this statement the Socialistic leaders

invite the Government, thereby making known their own war aims, to announce, on the ground of the favorable war situation which our compatriot:,' bravery has created, its willingness to Ciller into peace negotiations in order to terminate the sanguinary lighting. The manifesto appeared despite the censorship forbidding the discussion of wai aims as calculated to c.c v e a highly undesirable impression abroad, also probably on the majority of Herman Socialists. It might 'possibly lie interpreted abroad as due to weariness of the war, which does not exist. The C!a"ettc adds: "If the progress 01 military event- and of the 'political situation offer prospects of successful'peace deliberations the Ccrmau Government, of its own accord, will do what is nocossarv. Till I hen I her" win he only one wni ell word for Germany, namely, Hold out.'" London. June 2,.

'l'll,, industrial and agrarian leagues in Germane petitioned ""err von I'eth-mann-lloliweg to demand the creation of a colonial empire a. a condition of peace. 1 TicrViu. dene 2,. A coninnini.jno -dates: blew up an ammunition ihi'ot at. Arva-. We stormed a llu-ian on (he north tank of Ihe Ihiei-fer. between Head-ex and Chordow; V. c pur-ucd the !»«»' and reached I'rednraw, midway ; between Xnrawm, and Ibdialvn. | The an he.de position imvth-v-e ■■'. <■'. llawa be >:'- "1 taking pri-oncr ic'ih).