AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

MUCH LABOR UNREST. STRIKE OF PRINTERS. BERLIN WITHOUT PAPERS. Received Feb. 2, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 1. The tendency to exaggerate the importance of the German strikes continues here. There is no evidence of anything like a million striking, though it is evident there is much labor unrest. The German trade union leaders are generally hostile to the strikres. As the result of the suspension of the Vor.v-."!'ls. the printers of all the big ncv.s|...,,n-s struck, and the Berlin papers did not appear yesterday. STRIKE DEVELOPMENTS. STRTNCENT MEASURES TAKEN. Received Feb. .1, 5.5 p.m. Hamburg, Feb. 1. The commandant has proclaimed that all workmen liable to military service not resuming work will be called up forthwith. Another proclamation orders all strikers to resume. Amsterdam, Feb. 1. Stringent martial law has been proclaimed. Berlin warns the citizens not to participate in public meetings. The. Berliner Tageblatt states that the police occupied the trades union buildings, where a number of leaders were imprisoned. There lias been no rioting in Berlin, though several disturbances occurred in the suburbs, but the police dispersed the workers. oF GOVERNMENT. STARVING STRIKERS INTO SUBMISSION. MASSED RISING URGFX Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 2. The German Government considers th* strike lias gone far enough, and is initiating more drastic methods, including the issue of very limited rations t& the strikers, the dissolution of the Fctlin Soviet of five hundred members, and the seizure of the strike offices at Cologne. The Yolks Zeitung calls tor a dictatorship, adding it is evident that Social Democracy considers the time has come to realise its programme of violence. The Government and the bourgooise parties must beware that the Sorialiats do not decide the matter. A typical strike leaflet that has been issued in Berlin reads: "The Government desire peace only as a mask. "Only by rising en masse can the people end their misery and the. wholesale massacre. "A democratic republic alone can cry halt to the international butchery. "Delay no longer, German workers, men and women alike, but act with vigor, sparing none. "Now is the time for the Wow." It is estimated that 100.000 were concerned in the Charlottenburg riots, whereof the watchword was: "Peace and Bread." When the police ordered the strikers to disperse, a shot wan fired and a panic commenced. The police charged with drawn swords. The crowd oiganised itself for street fighting, blocking the roads. Numerous arrests were made. Throughout the day the crowd attempted riots, but the 'tsv&lry and troops with machine-guns overawed them. A CLEVER CAMOUFLAGE DESIGNED TO TRAP THE BRITISH WORKERS. WARNING GIVEN BY PRESS. Times Service. Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 2. A section of the London press flatly describes the German strike as a clever camouflage, designed to incite revolt and to spread pacificism in>British industrial districts, and especially to support the engineers' attitude regarding the manpower scheme. The workers have been warned that it is an attempt to trap them into a conspiracy, but it is generally, believed that the majority are incapable of being fooled. The Times, commenting on Mr. Henderson's letter, suggests that the Government should modify its attitude towards the engineers. STRIKES SUIT EMPLOYERS. WORKS ABOUT TO BE CLOSED. Australian Cable Association. Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 1. The nowspaper Germania asserts that the strikes are a blessing for the employers, and only hurt the workers, as tiie employers were about to close the worki for several days, owing to the cop.l short- , age. The employers had agreed to pay five-sevenths of the expenses of the loci;out. FREEDOM OF THE SEAS. WHAT IT MEANS FOR GERMANY. Australian Cable Association. Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, Feb. 1. Herr Haase, speaking in the Reichstag, revealed that Dr. Michaelis, when Chancellor, sent a memorandum to Austria, stating that only when England was beaten would the seas be free, and the way be opened in the South and East. DEMONSTRATIONS AND STREET FIGHTS. Australian Cable Association. Received Feb. 3, 5.5 p.m. Stockholm, Feb. 2. Latest news states that at Berlin, i Charlottenburg and Spandau there have been big demonstrations and street fights , between the strikers and police.