A SECRET CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1917, Page 5

A SECRET CONFERENCE.

THE FOOD PROBLEM. Received Jan. 20, 8.30 p.m. Berlin, Jan. ID. l ITerr von Bethmann-Hollweg had his iu'-t secret conference with the Reichslag leaders yesterday. There will be a further conference next week. The Austrian Premier had a conference with Herr Ilollweg at Berlin. llerr Zimmerman (German Foreign Minister; leaves Berlin for Vienna today. The Presidents of the Parliaments of the Central Powers have'arrived at' Berlin. i>r. Hoeier, Austrian Food Director, accompanies the Austrian Premier. He conferred with Hen- Batocki, and, it is understood, discussed economic questions notably the Roumanian food captures. The German Pre.-;- alludes to the Food Coniereuce with marked coldness. AMERICAN WARS , ■ i GERMAN ESTIMATES-. Received Jan. 21. 5.5 p.m. Berne, Jan. 20. ("lerman newspapers state that the United States, in the period from August, 1014. to September, 101 ft, slipped to the Allies war material valued at .■CS94,OfH),OOri, whereof 11 oer consisted of .shells and ammunition, and the .■emainder artillery, ma-chine-gun,", rilles, motor-cars, horses, and ambulance. American shipments of war material to Europe during eiadit months of 1010 amounted to £170,000,000. A HUGE INDEMNITY. Ai\ IMPERATIVE NECESSITY. Amsterdam, Jan. 10. ."he Berlin financial weekly Plotus stutes that an indemnity is -,n imperative necessity to Germany. If the war ends in June .t will cost GCOO millions sterling. The highest in-come-tax and succession duties and ~1)3 most productive monopolies would wt enable Germany a> raise the necessary interest and -'edemption money. Tv.'o thousand, two hundred and fifty mill', "lis nvght lie obtained by confiscating SO ,»'-'' ant. of the private property in Germur.v. It is therefore essential to get at least this amount of war indemnity. MAIL TRAIN BURIED HEAVY DEATH ROLL • Pi cived Jan. 22, 12.35 A.m. Copenhagen, Jan 21. A ureal landslide buried the mail .train between .Trieste and Vienna. There was a heavy death roll. Some carriages are buried'in the river Screth. A second train is icportcd to bo wrecked. SWISS KMPORTS PROHIBITED. Received Jan. 21, 5.5 p.m. Berne, Jan. ?0, Germany has prohibited all impcvU from Switzerland. The action s designed to avert a further tail in .he 'are o'' exchange, or is due to congestion on the South Gorman railways. PROM GERMAN SPECTACLE?. London, Jan. IS). A Berlin official message says. Tl:a enemy attacks on the height '" th" region if Arasti, northwards at Swala Valley, were repulsed with sewn loicei. / British company' attacked Sorrcs, but was easily repulsed.