AUSTRO GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO GERMANY.

FOOD SITUATION A TRAGEDY. TERRIBLE RAVAGES ON DjEALTH. UNREST SPREADING. New York, -Tail. 10. The Now York World's Berne correspondent interviewed a prominent neutral who had returned after spending several months in Germany. Ho says the food situation is a tragedy. Only the richest are able to stave off the pangs of hunger. Dogi are seldom seen, all having been eaten. Dysentery /ases. He saw terrible ravages on the health and stamina of adults in Berlin, including many cases of hernia owing to tile 103> v 'of girth. He was amazed at the voracious i.nd disgusting habits ot 'eating. At the best hotels only one helping, was allowed, hut diners could fill their plates and eat with animal ferocity. Malnutrition among the people resulted in greatly diminished production in the factories. Prices were fabulous. Geese brought thirty dollars. Soap was unobtainable. The clamor for peace was heard among all classes, particularly among the workers. The people were hoping that negotiations with Russia would relieve star- | vation and open the door for general | peace. The spirit of unrest and incipient revolt was spreading. The political prisons at Spandau were overflowing. Only German iron discipline prevents revolution. Berlin regards t'n ■ Kaiser coldly. All ciessps detest the Crown Prince because he lives in luxury, in glaring contrast with the awful hardships of the troops.

COMMERCIAL PENETRATION DESTROYED. EXPANSION MUST BE BY LAND. A NEW CAUSE FOR THE WAR. Received Jan. 11, 8.20 p.m. Berne, Jan. 10. The Germanophile newspaper Zurich Post declares that the war has destroyed Germany's policy of commercial penetration in Entente countries and America. Germany must abandon her sea-power ideas, and endeavor to secure expansion by land. The Deutsche Tages Zeitung declares the war was caused by Germany dumping cheap goods all over the world.

A THREATENED REPRISAL. FOR RETENTION OF ALSACELORRAINE PEOPLE. Received Jan. 11, 8.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 10. A Berlin official threatens to transfer 800 Frenchmen to Russia and 400 women to Helzmenden camp, as a reprisal for the Frencli retention of inhabitants' of Alsace-Lorraine, contrary to the of nations.

OFFICIAL REPORT, THE USUAL MISSTATEMENTS. London, Jan. 10. a \ Uo i man official dispatch says: The enemy's aircraft losses in December were 11« aeroplanes, of which 47 fell in our lines. 'We lost 82 aeroplanes.