AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1916, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

FRENCH DETERMINATION. RIDICULED BY GERMANY. Amsterdam, December 27. The Yorwacrts, referring to the French Senate's resolution, passed 011 December 24, says this conception of honor amounts to fanaticism. ft" the Trench believe it possible to force the •'iermans from French soil they may calculate upon the slaughter of the entire male population of France. They can never win a more favorable peace than noiv.

(The Senate, by 19-1 votes'to 00. passr *d a vote of confidence, in the Government. The resolution embodied the same sentence as the one addressed to the enemies of France by the Revolutionary Convention of 1793:—'"Franco cannot make peace with enemies occupying her territory." The public are enthusiastic, and interpret this as a reply to Germany and President Wilson.) I •

SPIRIT OF REVOLT. SPREADING IN AUSTRIA. Rome, Dec. 27 "Letters found on prisoners indicate that the spirit of revolt is spreading in Austria, where famine torments the people, and soldiers are suffering acutely from hunger, lowering their morale. An official circular urges rigid economy, pointing out that the situation is likely to become worse. ''The most extremo efforts of wii'.-power," th? circular adds ; "are necessary to enable us to resist.' MORE GERMAN ATROCITIES. Amsterdam, Dec. 27. The Germans executed twelve Belgians for alleged espionage at Hasselt, including a woman. Many others were sentenced to life imprisonment, including three women, while eighty received shorter sentences. MORE GERMAN CLAIMS.

A. & N.Z Cable Association and Reuters. Received Dee. 2S, 10.30 p.m. London, Dec. 28.

A Berlin communique claims bringing down nine aeroplanes in the Western theatre, and breaking several Russian positions east of the. river Danube, the army having forced its way on t'ne enemy front after bitter fighting, compelling a retreat to prepared positions. The communique also claims that the enemy, since December 22, has lost 7000 prisoners.