AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

THE MANNHEIN RAID. A XIGHT OF TERROR. GUXXERS SURPRISED. London. Jan, 2S. 1 lip Geneva correspondent of the Daily Kxprcss says Hint the British raid on Mannheim on Thursday eclipsed all raids, fhowing Germany the penalties she may expect for bombing open town* Traveller* arc- in i.i.t flight from Maimhein. All the toxvn spent a night of terror. I'nmc-strieken people rushed into 111-» streets half-clothed The British swooped so low that the ensines could l;e heard from the streets. They surpri-i.l the German anti-aircraft, gunners. One bomb hi in t.he barracks. When tiie British departed an angry rrowa gathered in the niari;et-sr|uare crying "Down with the war. give us peace.'' [Mannheim, in the grand-duchy of linden. is at. the confluence of the Nectar with the Rhine and is a great shipping eentre. flip total tonnage in 1 rvnn heinrr .•).! millions. Ir eontains important iron foundries, electrical, chemical, woollen and glass works. The population in 1010 was 193,600.] RIOTING AT PRAGUE. SHOPS LOOTED. VIENNA RESTAURANTS CLOSED. OWING TO LACK OF FOOD. Received Jan. 2!), 5.3 p.m. London, Jan. '2B. ; Serious rioting occurred at Prague against the reduction Of the flour ration by half. Shops \v£re looted. The police dispersed the crowd. All the. restaurants in Vienna are closed owing; tr lack of potatoes, vegetables, and flour. HERTLING'S SPEECH. HOSTILE GERMAX CRITICS. Amsterdam, Jan. 27. The Vorwarts comments that Count Hortling's speech has increased the enemy's distrust. We are surfeited with such ambiguous masterpieces which trifle with Germany's desire for peace. The Leij)ziger Volkzeitung says:—ln August, 1914, lierr von Bethmann-Holl-weg solemnly promised to repair the wrong done to Belgium. The Government now respects the promise. Doubtless the Government is unwilling to reinstate Belgian political independence, requiring conquest ir. ihft west as m the cast under a veil of hypocrisy. Other democratic organs complain of the absence of a clear declaration concerning Belgium which would remove the obstacle to a belief in the sincerity of Germany's peace efforts. Amsterdam, Jan. 28. Newspapers continue to comment on the speeches of Count Hertling and Count Czernin. Herr Harden, in the Zukuft, virtually endorses the programmes of President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George. He admits the justice of the Entente's claim regarding Alsace-Lorraine, condemns the German Government's Russian schemes and asserts the belief that peace is possible. Count Reventlow declares that Count Czernin's offer of separate negotiations with America endangers Germany's life interests. The 'Frankfurter Zeitung says that Austria is to be envied for having a Czernin. The Austrian egg has been laid and we must see what sort of bird comes out of it. Moderate newspapers angrily comment on the King of Saxony's telegram to a Pan-German meeting that the whole German people demand a military peace. KAISERIAN BUNKUM. GERMAN VULTURE POSING AS A DOVE. Amsterdam, Jan. 28. In acknowledging the Court Preacher's birthday greetings the Kaiser telegraphed:— "With deep thankfulness I commemorate to-day God's great deedß for the German people. He has given historical successes to our colors, removed many Borrows, and kept the Fatherland through distress and privations. "I hope ovt church will help me after we have victoriously finished the war in peaceful competition with other profes- , sions to heal wounds, conciliate controversies, unite and strengthen our people in enthusiastic and unselfish devotion to the Fatherland. ■ "My special sympathy is with the great , tasks set equally before the church and , State in the reconstruction of family life ; and the education of a God-fearing heal- , thy young generation worthy of their , fathers.'' , UNPRECEDENTED TUMULT. ! EFFECT ON MILITARISTS, j j Amsterdam, Jan. 28. ' The Frankfurter Gazette reports an r unprecedented tumult in Berlin political * circles. The Pan-Germans are kicking | up a tremendous row. declaring j that Hindenourg and Ludendorff threat- , en to retire. E The Deutsohes Tages Zeitung assails j Herr von Kuhlmann and Counts Czer- , non, Hertling and Rodern, the Finance s Minister. The. Tages Zeitung begs the f confederated German princes to inter- , vene energetically to prevent Germany j sinking into the abyss which these four ( men are preparing for her, adding that « the King of Bavaria has already apt proaChed the Kaiser on the matter. While f Count Czernin's declaration that he sent c a copy of his speech to President Wilson f was cheered in the Austrian House, the q announcement was greeted with howls of ( rage by the German annexationists. a The Deutsches Zeitung says that Count e Czenim's speeches raise serious questions t regarding the Austrian alliance. 1 s