AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

AUSTRIA'S PARLOUS CONDITION. THE PEOPLE DEMAXDIXG SUCCOR. Received May 10, 8.30 p.m. Koine, May IS. The smivily of the internal conditions of Austria is illustrated by a ineptinjr of representativeK of nil elasse* at Trieste demanding succor. The notice calling the gathering staled: ''Trieste is witlioiit reserves and resources. Wo refuse to die of starvation. .Rven people who were rich before tlie v.'iir now live by becftin.o- and on public charity. Malnutrition, starvation, and hmijrer prevent (ho workers from doing their daily task. The statistics of the sick and dead are terrifying. The city declines to become a cemetery. If tlic Government, will not provide for the inhabitants they will not die of starvation, but prefer *hy other i death."—Reuter. A TERRIBLE PICTURE.

DISTRESS IN BOSNTA AND lIERZE 60VINA.

Received May 10, 8.30 p.m. London, May 1!>. The agrarian newspaper Olasslaboda draws a terrible picture of the distress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which it describes .as being worse even than in Galieia and Bukowina. Whole districts hive been devastated and depopulated. Numerous inhabitants have departed and died in internment camps. Those remaining have been massacred by Aua> trian soldiery or have died of starvation. The deaths exceeded the birth by 5000 in 101.3, and by 23,711 in 1010, the mortality not including the fallen on the battlefield. Tho whole of the live stock has been destroyed and consumed by the army. It is impossible, to cultivate owing to the absence of oxen.—Renter THE EMPERORS' CONFERENCE A CLOSER UNION ARRANGED.

Received May 10, 8.30 p.m. London, May 15. A Budapest telegram states that no formal treaty has thus far been drawn up between the Central Powers. The new alliance contemplates defence against any possible coalition of Powers, but it is announced there is no intention of frustrating the establishment of a universal league of nations, wherewith the new alliance can be connected.

The German newspapers state that the Emperors' conference appointed kings for Lithuania, Courland, Ksthonia, and Poland. Berne, May lb. Tho Munieh Neueste Nar-htrichten, referring to the Bavarian king's visit to German headquarters for participation in the Austro-German negotiations, states that the hours are grave. Bavaria cannot allow iPrussia to be the role arbiter of Germany's destinies. The King of Saxony is proceeding to headquarters for a similar purpose. Despite the KaiserV, announcement the Naehtrichten's Vienna correspondent states that the Emperors' alliance is for a period of twenty-five years. The Emperors also arranged a closer military union.—Press Association. GERMANS DISSATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS. Received May 10, 2.25 p.m. Paris, May 13. Le Matin's Zurich correspondent states that the Emperor Karl returned suddenly to Vienna. German newspapers are apparently dissatisfied with the results of the conference of the. Emperors.—Press Assoc.

FAILURE OF GERMAN OFFENSIVE.

HIXDEXBURG'S HOPE. Xew York, May 14. The Xew York Times' Copenhagen correspondent says that the Politiken quotes a prominent German politician, who admits that Germany's Western offensive has not been a success, and that too many lives have been lost. Hindenburg still professes a belief that the German army will reach the coast, but llindenburg has been stopped-—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

CONSCRIPTING RUSSIANS. GERMANY'S NEW MOVE. Washington, May 15. Officials hero informed the United Press that they have learned, that Germany is seeking to augment her armies by conscripting Russians in the border lands.—Ans. N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE PRUSSIAN FINANCE BILL. Received May 10, 8.30 p.m. Amsterdam, May 15. The Prussian Lower House passed a third time the Electoral Reform Bill by :;:ifi to 183, but with the equal suffrage clause deleted. The 'Progressives, Poles, and Social Democrats opposed the emasculated Bill. The Minister declared that the Government had employed all constitutional means to carry equal suffrage. Failing acceptance thereof within a definite period the House would be dissolved Reuter.