AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

VVHOLE COUNTRY BLIGHTED. SHORTAGE OF FOOD AND COAL. i SOCIALISTIC 1 TALK AMOXU THE SOLDIERS Received Jan. !), 8.55 p.m. London. Jan. 8. 1 lie repatriated men from Germany that the whole country is 'blighted. During the journey of twenty ; six hours tliev only passed two trains/and only saw three chimneys from whence smoke was coming. Nothing was sold in the street?., and all life seemed to be suspended. The male population la pn the lighting fronts, and the women and children remain within \nihcated and iuidallied houses, (iermnny is standing the hunger test patiently. Her endurance may last a long time yet. There is no doubt that Germany ig short of food. The guards would pounce on bits in the cwill tubs. The British camps in many towns are in darkness owing to the coal shortage. Women s>re employed on the railways as platelayers and firemen. There is much socialistic talk among the soldiers, who describe the war as mere folly.

"ALTOGETHER UNACCEPTABLE." LLOYD GEORGE'S PEACE CONDITIONS Received Jan. 0, 10.40 p.m. Berne, Jan. 8. The Hungarian official agency says that Mr. Lloyd George's peace conditions are regarded in political circles as altogether unacceptable. They do not offer even approximately a basis for negotiations, being the terms which only a victor could offer a completely defeated enemy. The Central Powers now understand exactly what they can expect from Britain lyid her allies. AN OPEN CONFLICT. HUNGARY WANTS SEPARATE ARMY Received Jan. 10,12.20 a.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 9. Vienna telegrams state that there is open conflict between the Austrian and Hungarian Governments, owing to Hungary's proposal to create an independent Hungarian army. The Austrian Government conferred with the Emperor, who decided against the proposal. KUHLMANN'S POSITION. RESIGNATION PROBABLE. Received Jan. 10, 12.5 a.m. Berlin, Jan. !). Telegrams state that although the Brest Litovsk conference continues, Dr. von Kuhlmann's position is considered untenable, and that, as he has lost the favor of the Kaiser, Marshal von Hindenburg and the General Staff, his resignation is probable. EXPLOSION AT GREISHEIM. HUGE FIRE SPREADS RAPIDLY. Received Jan. 10, 12.10 a m Reuter Service. London, Jan. !). A headquarters correspondent states that a letter found on a dead German relates to the great explosion at. Greislieim recently. It states'that the explosion was followed by a huge fire, which spread rapidly, causing explosives in a shed to blow up. A number were killed, and the disaster caused many inhabitants of Greisheim to flee to Frankfurt.

THE CHANCELLOR'S DIPLOMACY. DESTINY OF OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. London, Jan. s. The Morning Post's Amsterdam correspondent states that Count Hertling summoned the party leaders, who expressed anxiety over the gravity of the internal situation. .Count /Hertling talked them over, avoiding a threatened split in the Reichstag majority. Thus the military annexationist influence is not removed from the negotiations. The Berliner Tageblatt hints that the Germans' next move will be to suggest that the governing bodies in occupied first be asked to decide whether they think themselves representatives of the peoples' will. If not, that they then be allowed to widen the basis of their constitution. MORE SCHEMES AFOOT. J-ondoijj, Jan. 8. The Austrian Emperor is about to visit the Sultan at Constantinople. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. Received January 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 8. A wireless Herman official report states: We repulsed au English attack eastward of Rulleeourt. There was violent enemy surprise artillerying all day Jong at Monte Astrone and northward .of Vidor.