GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1916, Page 5

GERMANY.

GERMAN PRESS ANGRY. THE FOOD PROBLEM. Copenhagen, May 10. German newspapers angrily comment on the interview with Sir E. Grey, and stoutly adirm that there was an antiGerman coalition prior to the war. The Deutsch Tages Zeitung alleges that England for centuries lt.s considered Belgium a bulwark against Germany, therefore she wants Belgium's independence restored. Zurich, May 18. The Patriotic League in Berlin discussed food problems. Herr Dernburg declared that the people wanted to know the truth, otherwise disturbances would become general^

NEW TAXES PROPOSED,

STATE MINISTERS OBJECT. Received May 17, 11.25 p.m. Berlin, May 17. IA conference of all the German States' Finance Ministers discussed the establishment of new taxes that would be necessary to meet war expenditure. Taxes are urgent, as the Government does not want to risk another loan. Herr HelJl'orich submitted a scheme whereby the States would be forced to pay the Imperial expenditure, but practically all the States' Ministers opposed the scheme. The result of the conference is unknown.

THE HUNGER NOOSE. GERMANY'S FOOD iPLIGHT. Received May 17, 11.25 p.m. London, May 17. The New York World, in a remarkable two-column article on Germany's food plight, states that the war is no longer a chivalrous war of arms, but a war of German stomach against ttie British. The hunger noose is around Germany's throat. The butter ration is one-quarter of a pound weekly, and many States are apprehensive of tlio proposed centralised food control, each fearing that the Berliners will filch its reserves.