AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

RAW MATERIAL BLOCKADE. GERMAN ECONOMISTS ANXIOUS IX)R THE FUTURE. Received Sept. 19, 7.4 a p.m. Amsterdam, Sept. 18. As the result of the changing fortunes of war the German economists and commercial leaders are discussing with increasing anxiety the raw material blockade. It is admitted that Germany has lost fcer bargaining power, as the Allies b*vt replaced nearly all Germany's specialities An interesting feature of the discussion is the assumption that the peace term* will leave Germany ftill free to intrigue internationally, with a view to smashing Britain's economic power. The Vossische Zeitung gives prominence to an article advocating a new Asian policy, based on a coalition of Germany, Russia, Persia, China, and Japan, giving the latter a free hand in the Pacific. The plan connotes the creation of trouble in Egypt and India and the invasion of their markets.—Renter. FOOD DISTRIBUTION TROUBLE CZECHS - ANTI-OERMAN ACTION". SPOIL FROM UKRAINE. " f • Received Sept. 19, 11.30 p.m. Amsterdam, Sept. 18. Twenty thousand attended a mass meeting at Dresden, as a protest against the Government's management of food distribution. Proclamations are being distributed by tbe Ciechs in the regions of Bohemia, calling on the farmers not to wQ their produce to the Germans even if the highest prices are offered. The Leipziger Abend Zeitung states that Gennary obtained from Ukraine 11,200 wagon loads of food, 750,000 poods of hemp, and sixty per cent, of Ukraine's metal production, 1,400,00''' hides, half a mlilion poods of tobacco.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. (A pood is equal to 40 lb.) RISING TIDE OF CZECHOSLOVAKS. PEEP mo AUSTRIAN CONDITIONS. Received Sept. 19, 7.45 p.m. Amsterdam, Sept- IS lit article in the Westfaeliche Zieomg bitterly complains of tbe impotence of the Austro-Hungarian Government to stem the rismg tide of Czecbo-Slovak demands, and gives illuminating glimpses of the internal situation in Austria. The article alleges that the Czechs in Bohemia are openly and haughtily pursuing their plans for the establishment of an independent Czech State. Since the Anlgo-Atnericans recognised tbe Gceebi' independence, the agitation las titen to unprecedented heifhts, and proceed* with surfc impudence that the Government dare not take action against these traitors. Tbe paper declares the traitors frankly say the Czech State is only a question of weeks or months. It also .declares that the laissez falre policy is causing treasonable movements which show openly in the monarchy's other Slav territories, and concludes by drawing attention to the rumors, which are becoming even more definite, thai Anstro-Hnngary will be federalized, in . connection with which the only explanation k that .Vienna is no longer capable of stopping tbe separatist tendencies of the Slav races.—Renter. AUSTRIANS AND GERMANS. BLOODY ENCOUNTER IK BELGIUM. Amsterdam, Sept 17. Thirty thousand Austrian troops are employed in garrison daty in Belgians There have been several bloody eneoonr ten between the Austrian* and Qerlnans because tbe Germans alone are ordered to the front—Ans.-iJ.Z. Coble Awn.