AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

GERMAN MAN-POWER SHORTAGE. HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED. Received Aug. 27, 5.5 p.m. New York, Aug. 26. Germans captured on the United States front report that the shortage of manpower is gravely concerning the High Command. Plenty of Germans are willing to surrender and sink their war aims. The losses during the Allied advance have been heavy, one division being reduced to less than a thousand men. —Press Assoc. THE IMPENDING MAIN BLOW. GERMAN PAPERS TROUBLED. .. BRITISH ADVANCE SLACKENING. Received Aug. 27, 7.60 p.iu. London, Aug. 20. Router's correspondent at American headquarters states that German papers are troubled at the knowledge that sooner or later, somewhere or other, the Germans must face half a million of the best troops in the world in the virile American army. Ludendorff knows that though he is retreating he has not yet had to meet the main blow, which his adversary is still waiting to deliver when the appropriate moment and vulnerable spot lias been jpached. Reuter's correspondent at British headquarters, reporting this evening, states that the pace of the advance is slackening, owing to the increasing resistance, especially towards Bapanme, where the counter-attack became heavier at the main points. The weather is boisterous, with heavy rain squalls, which mitigates the progress, the country being so rapidly transformable into mud and pools. 1 The Kolnische Zeitung, which is practically a semi-official organ, referring to the great battle, implores the German people not to despair, adding: "It is no longer a question of Belgium, Alsace, and Lorraine. We are fighting for Germany's 4ife. Let us act like men/ Reuter.

MORE GERMAN BLUFF. FAILURE OF MAILED FIST POLICY. Received Aug. 27, 9.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Aug. 26. The Vorwaerta, referring to the German reverse, says the German people are not beaten. What is beaten is the omnipotence of the mailed fist and the jingoes of world dominion.—Reuter. Amsterdam, Aug. 25. The North German Gaeette says that Lord Robert Cecil considers Dr. Solf's speech as, progress towards peace, but the peace programme developed by Lord Robert Oeeil would result in depriving Germany of her colonies and preparing her for complete defeat. Lord Robert Cecil is mistaken in supposing that Dr. Solf's progress lies in that direction. "We will never tolerate a curtailment of our world political rights."—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. I London, Aug. 20. The German press is discussing the possibility of retiring to the Rhine, and admits that the battle is now one of existence for Germany. New York, Aug. 20. Dr. Custom, of the University of Geneva Switzerland, writing in ttle , Yolk Medical Journal, says that the German birth rate has fallen off by 4U per cent, and the infantile death Tate tf 60 per cant, higher than in England.— | AW. N.Z. Cable Assoc.