AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

ACUTE CRISIS IN GERMANY. RIVAL WAE AIMS DISCUSSED. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. Received July 9, 6.40 :p.m. Berne, July 8. There is an acute crisis in Germany. The Reichstag Committee has held secret sessions, and heatedly debated the subject uC war aims, all day on Saturday, the anti-annexatiniusts and pan-Ger-man j demanding the Government's adherence to their rival policies. Subsequently the Kaiser gave an audience to Herr Hollweg, Field-Marshal von Hindenburg, Admiral von Capelle, von Stein, and Dr. Helfferich.

'ALARM AT,RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE. THE TRUTH DEMANDED. BUT NOT GIVEN.. Received July 9, 9.15 p.m. Berne, July 8. * Germany's political crisis is primarily attributed to the alarm caused at Berlin by the Russian offensive. The suppressed excitement which has been in evidence in the lobbies of the Reichstag for several days came to a head on Saturday, when a secret session was begun at 9 o'clock in the morning. Herr Er2bcrger, a member of the Centre Party, declared that the military situation was causing general uneasiness throughout the country, and that all classes were demanding that the Government should tell the truth as to the military and submarine prospects. Von Stein and Admiral Capelle replied optimistically, the latter declaring that submarinings would paralyse Britain. Herr Scheidemann demanded from the Government a clear declaration that it would accept peace without annexation. Kerr Westarp demanded, with equally clear insistence, a policy of annexations. Herr Hollweg Teplied, and the Bontmittee adjourned till Monday. The parties later privately discussed the situation unt.l late at night, and some resumed on Sunday. The Kaiser's audience of Ministers was prolonged.

THE CHANCELLOR'S REPLY. Wlli NOT BIND HIMSELF. Received July 10, 1 a.m. Amsterdam, July 9. Herr Holhveg declared that he rejected the idea of tying himself to a formula for peace without annexations and indemnities, FOOD HIOTS AT COLOGNE. Received July 9, 0.45 p.m. The Hague, July 8. In the rioting at Cologne, following on the reduction of meat rations, the police and troops charged the crowd, many being wounded.

OPTIMISM OVER FOOD SUiPJMES. Amsterdam, July 8. Von Booker, president of the War Supplies Department, informed tie Reichstag Committee that while June and July were the most critical months, the danger of a reduced bread ration was past, and ho hoped to increase it early in August, when the meat rations would "be reduced in order to conserve j milch cows. The prospects of the potato crop were better than in 1916. AUSTRIAN EMPRESS PRO-FRENCH. London, July 8. The 'Daily Express lobbyist states that certain members of Parliament have received .private news that the Empress of Austria is strenuously pro-French and is endeavoring to persuade the Emperor Charles to withdraw from the alliance ■with Germany.