AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

ANNEXATIONISTS IN POWER. GERMAN PEACE DEMANDED. London. Jan. 1(5. The Daily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent says that events in Berlin and Brest Litovsk show that the annex*tionists are complete masters of the situation. A mere hint of fall of Marshal von Hindenburg produced a flood of telegrams and resolutions demanding a German peace from all over the Empire. The Reichstag was helpless throughout the crisis, and left th# Government with a free hand to deal with Russia. Admiral von Tirpitz, speaking at Berlin. said: "\\e need only hold out in order to obtain peace in accordance with our wishes. Hindenbure and I.udemlorft will secure our interests in the west, the surrender of which would ruin Germany's political and economic future.''

PAN-GERMANS ATTACKED. , INDEMNITIES AND ANNEXATION'S RIDICULED. I Amsterdam, Tan. 16. Herr Dernburg, speaking at l'rankfort, |iittorly attacked the Pan-Germans. H» ridiculed their demands for annexations ?.nd indemnities, saying there is not enough gold in the world to pay the cost of the war and Germany has 110 power to compel long-dated instalments from England and America. The value' of the mineral-producing districts of Longwy and Briey was 150 millions, which waa the cost of the war for twenty-live days. The idea of taking the colonies was equally illusory. The German capital outlay upon her colonies before the war only produced five millions sterling year - ly, which was the cost of the war for one day from six in the morning till eight at night. (General disarmament was' essential. The cost of the air war alone was equal to the whole German army budget before the war, and the cost of armaments on the new scale was obviously unbearable.

FAMINE IN GERMANY. NEXT OFFENSIVE WILL FINISH THE HUNS. PEOPLE RESENTING MILITARISM AND SAVAGERY. Received Jan. 17, 5.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 16. The Chicago Daily News' Paris correspondent interviewed two Americans from Russia, who were permitted to travel in Germany because the authorities were grateful for their care of German prisoners in Russia. They wore surprised at the Allies' ignorance as to Germany's famine conditions, which were pitiable. The people are starving, haggard, wan and listless. They believed the next offensive would be the finish for Germany. The Pan-Germans' demand for a dictatorship is a sign of collapse, as the people are beginning to resent militarism and savagery. <

MUTINIES DAILY. HUNDREDS STARVING AND DESERTING. Received Jan. 17,11.30 p.m. Washington, Jan. lfi. Official advices from Greece state that a German aviator deserter reports that there are daily mutinies in the German army. Hundreds are starving and deserting. HUNGARIAN CABINET RESIGNS. Received Jan. 17, 8.50 p.m. Copenhagen, Jan. 10. The Hungarian Cabinet has resigned, apparently ojving to the Crown's rejection of the Premier's proposal to establish an independent Hungarian army. ' GERMAN OFFICIAL. Received Jan. 17, 8.5 p.m. London, Jan. 16. Wireless German official: The Freneh attacked north of Badonviller and penetrated the front trenches. We repulsed the Italians south of Monte Fontenasecca.