AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

THE KAISER'S. LATEST. 'humored offer of jpeace. Received July IS, 1.30 p.m. Rome, July 17. Tie Agenda II Ba raj's Berne correspondent states there is a widespread belief in Germany that the Kaiser, after conferring with the German nionarchs, will shortly send a message all enemy belligerents offering peace without annexations and indemnities.

THE KAISER'S LETTER TO HOLLWEG. Reuter Service. Received July 17, G. 30 p.m. Amsterdam, July 10, The Kaiser has written to Herr Hollweg, stating lie had decided, with a heavy heart, to grant his request, to be relieved of the office •which he had discharged for eight years with eminent loyalty, placing his brilliant powers and personality at the service of the Crown and country, in the most grievous times that had ever befallen Germany, wherein decisions of paramount importance had been taken. "You have stood by my side with counsel, and my heart's desire is to thank you for your most cordial and faithful service. A GRAND CROSS AS A SOLATIUM. Received July 17. G..50 p.m. London, July 10. A wireless Berliu official message states that the Kaiser's autograph letter accepting Herr HollwegV resignation concludes: "As an outward token of gratitude and appreciation I award you the Cross Of a Grand Commander of the Order of my House of Hohenzollern."

HOODWINKING THE (DEMOCRACY. London, July 15. The Daily Telesraph Rotterdam correspondent says that a study of German newspapers reveals the deep game the Kaiser and the Junker Party are playing iwith a view to hoodwinking the democracy. It 'bears the title of Parliamentarism. Those Hemanditisj the complete reform of the system of Government are told it will ibo granted, for the Ministry, or certain members 01 it, have been chosen from the Reichstag. This was offered instead of granting the demand for a Ministry responsible to the Reichstag, ft totally different thing. But the reformers, headed by (the Tagoblatt, swiftly pricked the bubble. The Tagoblatt bitterly complains that •Dr. Michaclis has been appointed without Parliament being consulted. The Vorwaerts declares that no Social Democrat will accept a seat in the socalled Parliamentary Government, which is without any more responsibility than before.

HOLLWEG ISOLATED. ' , Paris, July 16, Lo Temp- states that the majority of Germans wee desirous of peace and to rid themselves of Herr von BethmannHollweg as the author of the war. The remainder were determined on conquests and drove him out, suspecting that he tad abandoned all hope of annexations, while the Kaiser deserted lum in order to save himself. Many newspapers argue that the Kaiser is convinced that Germany has lost the war and wishes to saddle on his son the responsibility of extricating the dynasty and the country from its present plight, which is daily growing worse. 1 Amsterdam, My 16. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg's opponents in the press describe him as a good administrator, but no statesman. The Vossische Zeitung argues that the growth of England's anti-German policy synchronised with Herr von Bethmann's tenure of office. ZEPPELINS REPLACED BY AEROPLANES. * Received July 17, <0.30 p.m. Lausanne, July I<s. The construction of zeppelins at Friedrichshaven has been stopped, and thousands of workmen diverted to the construction of aeroplanes, new types of which are constantly experimenting at Lake Constance. AN OFFICIAL REPORT Aus. and N.Z. Caible Assoc. and Reuter. Received July 17, G. 30 p.m. London, July 16. A wireless German official report states: The English thrice unsuccessfully attempted to recapture the positions lost at Lombartzyde. There was strong artillerying on the coast, also from the Yser to the Lys and the La Baasee Canal to the South bank of the Scarpe. The French failed to recapture the positions lost southward of Courleson. They also fruitlessly attacked southward of La Bovelle farm, and north-east of Sillery. O-ur trench wc_j of Champagne remained in the enemy's hands after a night of fighting. We failed to maintain the trenches captured at Hockberg, but reached our old lines alter bitter fighting at Pocklbcrg. There has been lively artillery on the west bank of the Mausc, between the Meuse and the Moselle. Lively fighting is proceeding on the front southward of ©undburg. The Bulgarians repulsed a Russian surprise attack on the Danube delta.