AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

VON WIECAND ON THE SITUATION. 'AXBACB PRAISED. XctW York, January 26. Von Wiegand, the most famous Ante- . rican correspondent in Germany, who is oa a brief visit to New York, gave in exclusive interview to the Australian Press Association. He said: "We have seen the Anzacs in action on the West front, an<l have nothing but praise for their bravery and initiative. German officers express unqualified admiration for the Australians The Crown Prince Huprecht told me that the Australians and New Zealander« were the most daring of the British troops. Prince Ruprecht is a mountaineer, and appreciated the colonials' contempt for obstacles. He said the recklessness of the colonials sometimes led to unnecessary losses. Whereas other troops utilised all available cover, the Australians charged in the open, indifferent to, even, contemptuous of, danger. "During the. advance at Loos a Bav. ftrian general spoke with admiration of the perfection of every detail of the Australian plans for taking trenches. "I met many prisoners at Guillemont. The Tommies willingly sold me helmet* find other souvenirs. I noticed 20 or 30 Standing aloof who contemptuously refused to sell anything. They were Australians. I did not see many Australians in the prison camps. Trince Rupprecht asked one how lie was ..faring and replied, 'Not bad, I do not expect beefsteaks daily.'" Von Wiegand considers that the war will last throughout 1917. He believes the British and French will make a. gigantic effort in tflie 'West next .spring. The Germans are planning the most exttneivo defences, and, if the Allies no success on the West, will transfer the offensive to another field, most probably the Balkans. • Germany was experiencing the most severe winter privations and sufferings, .but not starvation. The economic .'on'ditions would hamper but not utallv affeet the military situation. The influence of the party of Admiral Tirpitz w£U greatly exaggerated. ExMinisters in Germany had no influence owing to the excessive jealousy of their successors. Admiral von rirpitz was practically an exile. He recently visited him at St. Blasson, in the Black Forest where he was living like a hermit in a small villa. Von Wiegand did not think there ■would be ruthless submarining, because the Bi" Four—the Kaiser, Hindcriburg. Ludfndorff and Bcthmann-HoUwcg, did not approve of it, believing it would he likely to rupture relations with America. t Germany launched the peace drive for penological and political reasons. She xvas not sanguine of success, but considered it worth while owing to the possibility of its averting the Allies' €hreatener offensive.

V I austro-bVlgarian agree- ] MENT. I AtSIBIAN EMPEROR TO VISIT THE KAISER. * Received 28, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, January 20. Tlia Austrian Emperor and Foreign Minister will visit the German headquarters on the Kaiser's birthday. The Berliner Tageblatt's Vienna correspondent states that the Austro-Bul-garian agreement modifies the old contract in Hungary's favor. It reduces Hungary's share of the monarchy's peases from 38»/ 2 to 34 per cent , mod.- 1 lies the customs tariffs to the advantage of Hungarian agriculturalists, and admits Hungarian securities which will foe admitted on the Vienna Stock Es • change. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. THE USUAL SUCCESS. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. Received '2B, 5J5 p.m. London January 2G-, A German official report states:—The „ 7 eilphalians and Badeners stormc-d the trenches on height 301 on a mile front on the west bank of the Meuse, inflicting sanguinary losses. A French night ' counter-attack failed. We occupied further positions on both sides of the Aa, repulsed counter-attacks on the cast ,and took 500 prisoners . Admiralty, per Wireless Press. Received 28, 11.15 p.m. • London, January 27. ; A German official report states:—Russian reinforcements were unable to recapture ground in the region eastwards, *3 we were raiding between the Casinu and Putna valleys. „ A German official report states:—We broke further through against positions on Hill 304, with ianguinary losses.

AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED.

SEVERE WINTER WEATHER. Received 28, 5,5 p.m. , Berne, Jinuary 27. The Tribune's Geneva, corespondent 'earns that it is officially stated that King Carl will dissolve the Reiclijtrath and order * general election. The cold in Germany and Austria is intense, fortv-onc deaths being due to cold in Munich in six days. The winter in Switzerland is far more severe than usual. - ON GERMAN CRUISE?., Australian Cable Association, fleecived 2S, 5.5 p.m. Berne, January 20. Two German officers gtatc that an explosion occurred on the cruiser Bremen 1(3250 tons) at Kiel, causing the destruction of ihe ship and crew ,and damagi ing two vessels near by. > (PROPOSED ECONOMIC FEDERATION(Received 27, 5.5 p.m. London, January 27. His now#pawm» forecast that the "■KtiiU cc)T tj^ >l P lates - birthday i _»!,«»•, Hi? Mtjifiliahing an (fepnoulc fed'f JpiW£p*s2!& «•