AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT. AUSTRIAN'S AND GKRMANS RECRIMINATING. j Received Jan. 8, 8.30 p.m. Rome, Jan. 7. Austre-Gernmn newspapers are recriminating regarding the incomplete success of the offensive against" Italy. The Austrians blame Germany for delaying assistance in order to carry out an offensive at Riga, while the Germans blame the Austrians for permitting the Italian offensive at Bainsizwi, whifh delayed the Austro-German offensive for two months, and criticise the Austrian high command for leaving Czechs at Bainsizm And not realising that they intended to seize the first opportunity to surrender.

A SPLIT. BETWEEN ANNEXATIONISTS AND MODERATE ELEMENTS. Reuter Service. Received Jan. 8, 5.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 7. A split between the pan-German annexationists and the more moderate'elements in Germany over the Brest Litovsk negotiations is evident by the violent attack on Dr. von Kuhlmann (Foreign Secretary) by the Rheinisohe Westfaelische Zeitung, to whose cpnduct of the negotiations it attributes Genera! Ludendorff's threat to resign. The journal doubts whether the army command can longer co-operate with von Kuhlmann, and declares that "renunciations in the East" is von Kuhlmann's watchword, and that renunciation in the West will follow. The Germans must now choose between Hindenburg and Ludendortf, or Kuihlmann and Hertling.

MODERATES AND MILITARISTS SERIOUS DIFFERENCES MANIFESTED. Received Jan. 8, 8.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 7. The pan-Germans are actively seeking Dr. von Kublmann's overthrow, as they regard him as the chief obstacle to the militarists' policy. Krupp newspapers violently denounce him, It is an open secret that serious differences were manifested at Brest Litovsk between Dr. von Kuhlmann and Count Czernin on the one hand and the German military representaives on the other; al3o that von Kuhlmann frequently appealed to Berlin tor anuroval. ,„The German democrats are agitating for the removal of Marshal von Hindcnburg and General Ludendoru", in order to end military influence over Germany's political policy. Germany lias recognised Finland's independence. BRITISH DESIRE TO SMASH GERMANY. COMMENT OX LLOYD GEORGE'S ..... SPEECH. Received Jan. 8, 8.20 p.m. Copenhagen, Jan. 8. The Vossiche Zeitung describes Mr. Lloyd George's speech as the first tangible British peace offer, but a peace offer at the expense of Germany's allies. The return of the German colonies in exchange for strengthening the British position in Asia is not acceptable.

The Koelnisclie Zeitung says Mr.- Lloyd George's tone has chanaed. t>ut the old imperialistic aim 3 are wholly maintained. The Lokal Anzeiger considers the old desire to smash Germany for ever is still apparent. The answer will be given by submarines and by German troops on the West front. ENLARGED AUSTRIA. COUNT OZERNIN'S VISION. RUSSIAN BORDERS REMOVED. Received Jan. 8, 9.30 p.m. Rome, Jan. 7. Count Czernin, interviewed at Vienna before leaving for Brest Litovsk. indicated that Austria expects as the result of the negotiations that the map of Europe will be completely changed in Austria's favor. There will no longer be any frontier between the Russian and Austrian monarchy from Bukovina to Silesia. New political States will be created. Ukrainia and Poland will be independent and may join the Austrian monarchy, but one tiling is certain, thev will remove the borders of Russia hundreds of miles.