AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

STRAINED RELATIONS OVER DIVIDING THE SPOIL, Received Jan. 2, 8.30 p.m. Home, Jan. 1. Swiss correspondents assert that the Central Alliance relations are strained, Germany having suggested t.lint Austria should give up Serbia, and that Bulgaria should be contented with trifling territorial annexations. PEOPLE STARVING. '■REVOLUTION* WITHIN" AND DEFEAT WITHOUT." London, January 1. The Daily Express' Amsterdam correspondent sent a neutral merchant of high standing on a mission of enquiry to fiermany, including Cologne and Hanover. He attempted to enter Essen. He says that despite continual smuggling of foodstuffs the condition iii north-western Germany i s terrible. The bread is like indiarubber and made of sweepings of rice ami sawdust. Vet it is the chief nourishment of the poor popiilntion. The type of chubby (levman has disappeared except among the peasants, who feed at the expense of the town population.' The latter .are mostly pale and haggard. The, population of Cologne receive eight ounces of bread, \'i« ounces of meat- (including bones) and eighteen ounce; of potatoes daily. 22 ounces of sugar, thirteen ounces o[ fat, and two ounces of butter weekly, and one egg a fortnight. Only children .inder six years have milk, while fresh vegetables, cheese and tea are unknown. There is a great increase in thefts, boys and girls organising hands and breaking into shops. Rcvolutionarv ideas are growing. The Emperor and the military clique- are ■between two abysses, revolution within and defeat without. The- merchant noticed many women in the churches carried out fainting for lack of .nourishment. Many soldiers on furlough refuse to return to the front and are imprisoned or -hot. All elates of people are convinced that famine will surely come in the ? prir.o. Revolution will break out wiles? peace is secured. People told the merchant to inform the outside world that "we are starving. If our soldiers can stand it longer we cannot see our children suffering from hunger. Death would be better than such a, life. We ask the world to have pity on us; our own Government bus none.'' Amsterdam, January 1. An estimate has been made that Germany van increase her army by about Sfl.flOO by releasing convicts. The order docs'not applv to the worst crimin-I als. Geneva. Jar.auvy 1. Von Bulow, with numerous secretaries, has iiivived in Switzerland. POSITIONS STORMED.. IX NARUJA REGION". A wireless Austrian official message states:—-Austro-Germans, fighting thefr way forward in the upper valleys of Zabala. Naruja. and Putna, stormed several , successive position? in the Narja region, the eneiuv defending ever)' foot. GERMANY'S YEAR OF FATE. Amsterdam, January 1. An outburst of Teutonic fury will certainly follow the, publication of the Entente's Note. The Rheinsche Zeitung declares that the German and ifis English antithesis will not be reconciled in 1917, Germany's year of fate. SHIPPING LOSSES. Copenhagen, December 31. ■ln the course of a lecture at Hamburg it was revealed that German shipping losses have been as follows: —152 vessels sunk, 207 captured, 621 interned in neutral liarbors, 490 in German harbors. RECRUITING GAOL INMATES. . The German Government is considering the scheme for recruiting misdemeanants who voluntarily apply for admission to the army, excluding professional and habitual criminals.