AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

SCENES OF DISORDER. ACCUSATIONS AGAINST RULING " PARTY. Vfi '' I ' 1 ? ft* Amsterdam, Oct. >.| Scenes 0f... disorder occurred in t|o Reichstag during, the debate on an interpellation "by flio Socialist Landsiiiirg ? oncoming Admiral Tirpitz's new Fatherland Party. He declared that the now party was a pan-Otrnmu institution whose lenders ufod trjfeir war profits to buy newspapers for the purpose of influencing public opinion, with the object of securing bigger dividends. He accused the War Minister, General von Stein, of supporting the party's agitation against the Reichstag's peace resolution, and called upon the Chancellor to repudiate, "the pan-Gorman agitation. Herr Lundsberg described how clergyman and officials intimidated civilians, how officers carried on propaganda ill the army on behalf of the Fatherlarid Party.

General von Stein replied that political agitation in the army was find added that the army hungered lei intellectual nutriment, and the soldiers must *he enlightened regarding the enemy's lies and the difficulties at home. Therefore the nrmy command provided lectures, plays and newspapers, because the will to victory must be maintained. Herr Helferrich explained that Dr. Michaelis was absent because lie was burdened by work. The Socialists wanted the Chancellor to excommunicate the party. This led to interruptions. Dr. Helferrich exclaimed, ''That's not true. I will waste no further words, if 3011 hat'e not confidence in the leaders of the army and the Government." Shouts of "\'o!" drowned the remainder of the sentence. 1 Dr. Heiferrich, after a pause, said "There is no object in my continuing to tpeak," and resumed his seat. Tim debate was adjourned. The Vorwarts states that Socialists meetings throughout Germany favor peace negotiations.