AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

CAUSE OF STRIKE. REDUCED BREAD RATION'S. AUTHORITIES AFRATD TO USE SOLDIERS, MUNITION' WORKS CLOSED. Received Jan. 22, 5.3 > p.m. Londdn, Jan. 21. Tlie Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent says the general strike in AustroHungary originated in the' reduction of the bread ration. The Arbeiter Zeitung denounced tlie reduction, and declared the privileged classes were tolerably well provided for, whereas the millions'were unable to get bread, and the authorities did not care. The papers urged tlie workers of Viennato demonstrate, The response exceeded expectations. :\latty railway and State workers struck. The populace joined in, the streets of 'Central Vienna being packed; by crowds' demanding' bread. The town council hastily met and sent a message to the Government protesting against the reduction of tlie bread ration. The strike lias extended to the munition wo?ks at Neustad, winch are entirely closed; Violent encounters have taken place between the police and the strikers. Tlie authorities feared to employ the military. There were'many encounters at Cracow, where tlie Arclibisliop headed a procession to tlie Governor's Palace. 1,200,000 STRIKERS. , DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. IN FAVOR OF PEACE. \ Received Jan. 22, 5.5 p.m. London. Jan. 21. The Daily Telegraph's Milan correspondent says that the latest news from Vienna reports that the demonstrations continued during the week-end. There were huge processions of strikers, munition workers, and women and children. Tile agitation then becatfie of a political character in favor of peace. A Socialist deputation approached the Government and received an assurance tliat peace negotiations were being expedited. . Berne, Jan. 21. It is estimated that there are now 1,200,000 strikers in Austria.

STRIKERS DEMAND PEACE. AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS. WOT IN VIENNA. Heme, Jan. 01'. The Vienna correspondent of tlie Munich Naclirichten states that the strikers demand: Firstly, that the Brest Litovsk negotiations shall lead to an immediate general democratic peace; secondly, an immediate improvement in- food conditions; thirdly, the introduction of democratic reforms; fourthly, £l)6 abolition of military control of industries. The strikes reached their heifht in Vienna at mid-day oil Thursday, when 300,000 workers were idle. The police stopped a procession, and a riot resulted, necessitating closing the ahopsi The Neue Freie Presse states that Austria is the only belligerent where all classes desire peace. It protests against German designs in Poland.

; disorders Most serious. HOSTILITY TO GERMANY. Paris, .Tan. 21. Swiss telegram*, from- Austria show that: the disorders were most serious. A marked feature of the demonstrations was the hostility to Germany. Demonstrators in Vienna and Gratz dopeatedly cried "Down with Prussian militarism. Long live tlie Russian revolution' and universal peace.'* Precautions have been adopted in Vienna to keep the demon strators away from the vicinity of the German Embassy,

STRIKES SPREADING. MINISTRY RESIGNS. , Received Jan. 22 8 p.m. 'Times Service. Amsterdam, Jan. 21. The Austrian strikes are spreading. Peace is demanded. The Ministry has resigned. , J STRIKE ATi BUDAPEST. Berne, Jan. 21. A general strike began at Budapest on Friday.

PAN-GERMANS' VICTORY. - t MODERATE ATWrSER <JIVK.S WAY TO PRUSSIAN. Received Jan. -22. 8 p.m. Amsterdam, Jan. 21. The retirement of von Valentini. the i-liief of tlic Kaiser's civil Cabinet, i-i regarded as a victory'for the Pan-Germans. Tlie Taeglisctie Rmulsehau dec-lures that voti Valentini is an opponent of the TObmarining pohev, anct the real author of the Kaiser's Easter suffrage - 'manifesto. Von .ValcntinPs successor is von Herg, a typical officer of the Prussian Guard and a pronounced Pan-German. He beconiea the Kaiser's closest personal adviser. ,

THE FOOD PROBLEM. ONEY SOLVABLE AT THE EXPENSE OF ARMY. : Rome, Jan. 21. Vienna messages state that the Council of Ministers recognise that it is impossible to solve tlie food problem for the general population without lowering ■the army's efficiency. , All the military factories and workshops in Austria-Hungary are closed owing to the strike. ! KAISER'S EFFORTS TO AVOID CRISIS Some, Jan. 21. A report from Vienna states that t,!.ic Papal Nuncio describes all Austro-Huri-gary as on fire with opon opposition to Germany. President Wilson's message is understood to have created widespread demands for a democratic peace and the spreading of industrial chaos is also a strong factor. The Kaiser is desperately striving to avert a crisis.