GERMAN POLITICAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1918, Page 3

GERMAN POLITICAL CRISIS.

Militarists v. moderates A eabbgram from the Sydney Sun's London representative, dated January •S, said:— llague and Amsterdam message? describe the position in Germany as the mose critical since the fall of Di. von Bethmann-Hollweg. The Brest-Litovsk negotiations are compelling the Kaiser to decide finally between the. Military Party and the Moderates. The Kaiser on Sunday tai!;c<! Tor an hour with Dr. von Hiertling, in the Chancellor's garden. Then he conferred with the general start and the War Minister. There is much comment concerning a long interview between the Kaiser and von.- Woyrscb, Germany's newest field marshal. 'Dutch opinion is that the Kaiser desires to side with the popular generals, but he fears a political upheava l and Austrian influences, which obstinatelv demand peace 4 at the cost of sacrifice". " The Kolnische Zeitung appeals to the general staff to re-unite with the diplomats, but the Pan-Germar.a demand the final dismissal of tiie Moderates from power and from the Kaiser's entourage. The crisis between von Ludendorf and the Government is due to the inclination of Count Czeriiin (Austrian Foreign Minister) and Baron Kniilmann (German Foreign Minister) towards the evacuation of Polajid and Oourland. The Czerninit.es believe tiiat the political status of these countries is important, provided that the Central Powers get a good start with pacific penetration. Ton Ludendorf now occupies the same position towards Count von Hertling (Imperial Vlianccllor) as von Tirpitz occupied tovon Rethmnnn-Ilollweg. TkV I'an-Germaii newspapers are flooded with abides signed bv well-known generals chaining- that Germany is holding all the trumps of might winch must, he played for the overthrow of En°ia-i<! and the bleeding white of France. ° The addition oT <10.000.000 Russians to the Germanic Empires, and the ultimate incorporation of Ukraine into the Austrian Empire, thus making Russia an Asiatic Power based on Moscow is more to be feared by the Allies than the PanGermans' wildness.