AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

MOVEMENT TO DETHRONE J •XAISERi ; "A DUTCH RUMOR. HIS SUCCESSOR NAMED. Received Dec. 21, 8.45 p.m. ! Washington, Dec. 20. 1 Officials state that interest has been : aroused by rumors from Holland as to it movement which ha", begun in Gormar, : moderate circles v.'it.'n the object of ultimately dethroning the Kaiser and choosing Priiye Max of Baden as his successor. ' Tt is reported that well-informed perFons in Holland intimate there is some foundation for the rumor. I THE KAISER'S CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. RESUMING COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. AUSTRIAN PREMIER OK PEACE TERMS. Received Dec. *2l, 8.4.5 Ip.Tn. Amsterdam,U>ec. "20. The Kaiser has announced \liat the Christmas festivities will be cut down to a minimum, in view of the serious times. The president of the German Reiehs Rank has summoned the leading bankers to a conference to discuss the resumption of commercial relations with Russia immediately peace is signed. Speaking in the Austrian Reichsrath, the Premier stated that the Central Powers would nol try to secure great advantages from Russia. No territorial or economic annexations would be the principle for a general peace, but such disinterested anus could not be maintained if their enemies continued the war. DEMOCRATISATION OF GERMANY. SUPPORT TO RCSSI.V? I'EAC'P. TERMS. Received Dec. 21, 11.40 p.m. Amsterdam, Dec. "20. The Independent German Socialists have decided to support Russia's main peace terms. They alfo urged the democratization of Germany. FOOD SCANDALS. WAR PROFITEERING RAMPANT. London, Dec. 20. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle reports that extraordinary food scandals have been revealed in Germany, and have aroused general indignation. Practically every municipality in the country has been engaging in war profiteering in order to recoup themselves for wajr expenditure. The Government should have made good this expenditure, but has other things to do with the money, so the municipalities have been selling foodstuffs to munition workers and others at extortionate prices and tbue made the municipal balance sheets tolerable. Many councils took the opportunity to help frlen'ifs, particularly their own employees, who were given full rations of mßk, potatoes, and bread, while the public were semi-starved. The VorWarts states that foodstuffs were often sold at 500 per cent, above the Government maximum prices. KRUPPS' PROFITS. Amsterdam, Dec. 20. Krupps' show a profft of £5,000,000 for lfllti. The dividend is 10 per cent. GERMAN OFFICIAL MESSAGE. Received Dec. 22, 12.45 ajn. "London, Dec. 20. # Wireless German official: We repulsed repeated counter-attacks against our newly-won lines at Monte Pertica. The prisoners taken between the Brenta and the Piave since December 11 number 270 officers and 8150 men.