SERIOUSNESS OF STRUGGLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1918, Page 5

SERIOUSNESS OF STRUGGLE.

PANGF.UMANS lU.AMIO SOCIALISTS. FOR THF RI'SSHX RKJECTIOX. Received Jan. 3. Kit) a.m. London, Jan. 8. The DailyJTelcgraplfs Rotterdam correspondent pontirms the seriousness of the struggle between the pan-Germans and the Social Democrats and other moderate parties. The pan-Germans threaten the gravest consequences if Dr. von Knlilmnr.ii is permitted to retain oliioe. His attitude at Brest Litovsk is regarded as a menace, to the annexationists' policy. The majority bloc in the Reichstag has been broken up. The parties constituting the majority refus'l- to adhere to the resolution of .July 1!) regarding the "no annexation and no indemnity" peace. The decision of the Russian delegates to resume negotiations lias somewhat calmed the moderates' anxiety. The Majority Socialists are presenting an ultimatum to the Government forthwith.

The Minority Socialists have sent, a message to the Bolsheviks inviting tlie latter to reject the pourparlers. The pan-Germans 'blame the Socialists for the Russian rejection of the annexation programme, the Socialists having informed the Bolsheviks that a separate peace would he detrimental to the revolutionary movement which was developing in Germany. EFFECT OF MANNHEIM RAID. TERRIFIED REFUGEES. Berne, Jan. 7. Fifty aged wealthy Germans with their families have arrived ab Basic homeless as the result of a reprisal air raid on Mannheim, which created immense havoc among the populace. Terrified refugees state that the Germans brought Allied officer prisoners into an enclosure near the main station at Mannheim hoping to dissuade the British from furuher raids.

THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. PEOPLE'S FREEDOM TO VOTE. Received Jan. 9, 12.10 a.m. Copenhagen, Jan. 8. The Berliner Zeitung states that Germany ha 3 definitely promised the peoples of the occupied territory freedom to vote upon their destiny. The voting need not occur until German troops haveevacuated the territory, nor until the Russian army is demobilised. I LUDENDORFF ON STILTS. Paris, Jan. 7. Reports from Zurich state that General von Ludcndorff sent an ultimatum to the German Government on the peace conditions to be imposed on Russia. After long deliberation and the intervention of the Kaiser, Ludendorf withdrew his resignation, having gained his own way. / -