AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1918, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

THE ABORTIVE COUP D'ETAT. MILITARY WISH TO FIGHT TO BITTER END. ' Received Oct. 30. 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 29. Mr. Tower writes: It is now clear that General von Ludendorff and Marshal von Hindenburg had planned a coup d'etat on the 25th inat. Marsha! von Hindenburg addressed telegrams to the division*. al generals urging continuance of the war in preference to a dishonorable peace, whilst a telegram was sent from the former stating that President Wilson expected tike capitulation of the army and navy, but that they would rather fight to the bitter end. The Vorwaerts admits that the alterations in the constitution limiting the military were rushed through the Reichstag by tfte urgent danger of a coup d'etat, and not as concessions to President Wilson. The Tageblatt states that the present internal struggle is as much between the military and civil authorities as the discussion of peace. Discussing Hindenburg and Ludendorffs seesaw tactics, the paper adds that the German people decline to change their policy according to the temporary humor of the High Command. We have had enough of the suddenness of the Kaiser's regime. EQUIVALENT TO SURRENDER. THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN REPLY. Received Oct. 30. 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 29. The Austro-Hmigarian reply is regarded in well-informed circles as equivalent to surrender. Count Andrassy recently went to Switzerland and vainly attempted to open communications with the Allied diplomats. He returned to Vienna knowing that the only course available was peace, and also that the Hapsburg monarchy was unreservedly in the hands of President Wilson. Th'i subsequent action of the new Slav Governments in cutting, off Austria's food supplies made the position hopeless, and compelled the hasty despatch of the note, without awaiting t'iie outcome of the German negotiation's. Allied diplomat-; expect that Austria's action will potently influence Germany's decision, and cause Turkey to speedily imitate Austria. EMPEROR KARL'S PROCLAMATION. INDEPENDENCE PROMISED. Received Oct. 30, 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 29. The Archduke Joseph has issued a proclamation ialing i!,a' the Emperor had charged him with the task of evolving a solution bringing complete independence to Hungary, securing peace, and giving Hungary a seat in the League of Nations, provided the unity of the Empire was maintained.—Reuter. THE BREAKING-UP PROCESS. ITALY'S CLAIMS WILL BE MET. Received Oct. 30. 7.40 p.m. Amsterdam. Oct. 29. The Austro-Hungdrian empire Is breaking up so rapidly and completely that it is increasingly difficult to follow the process. Italy's claims to her unredeemed territory and portions of the Dalmatian coast are secure, but it is scarcely probable that Hungary will abandon Fiunie to the Slavs without, a struggle. It is understood Uhat Count Lamasch is forming a coalition Ministry, whose chief aim will be the formation of a new federation of States. Count Lamasch supports the view of the various nations forming their own speciiu. Governments and sending delegates to a joint Government.—Reuter. UTTER CONFUSION IN AUSTRIA. REMOVAL OP THE HAPSBURGS. NEW STATES BEING FORMED. Received Oct. 30. 7.40 p.m. London, Oct. 29. The utter confusion in AustriaHungary is presenting urgent problems to the Allies. A difficulty confronts the Versailles Conference in estimating the extent of the Kaiser's authority. It is persistently reported that he Ihas run away to his Hungarian shooting box at Godollo. The definite movements taking shape are the removal of the Hapsburgs, and the creation of Magyar States and Hungarian, Croatian, and Czecho-Slovak republics, whilst the twelve million Ger-man-Austrians are. apparently isolated j and deserted. They look towards Germany. Paris favors the prevention of a revolutionary tempest. The Edho de Paris states that the Allies' terms must prevent the Germans and Austrians entering the Honenzollera Empire. The Matin urges the occupation of Prague, Trieste, Transylvania, and Laibach. The PaU Mall Gazette says the armistice conditions include the formal entry of the Allies into Berlin before the occupied parts of Germany are returned. The Tageblatt states that the military leaders lhave demanded of the Kaiser that he shall bluntly break off negotiations and summon the people to fight to the last.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ALLEGED REFORM BILL. Received Oct. 30. 7.40 p.m. Copenhagen, Oct. 29. The Berlin Federal Council has approved of the Bill amending the constitution in the form adopted by the Reichstag.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

CIVIL WAR IN HUNGARY.

BETWEEN THE CIVILIANS AND THE MILITARY. MACHINE-GUNS USED. ' Received Oct. 31, 1.10 a.m. London, Oct. 30. Heavy fighting is going on in Budapest between the followers of Count Karolyi and the military. The soldiers are using machine-guns and bayonets, many being killed.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. WE HAVE TO ASK FORGIVENESS OF BELGIUM. Hc-rr Harden, in his paper Zukunft, has made an extraordinary admission with regard to Belgium. Referring to Count Hertling's phrase of Belgium as a "pawn," ho says:— "'Can a country be regarded as an independent State which is only to he returned to the owner when negotiations with twenty other States have reached a favorable conclusion? Can a country be regarded as an independent State which, before its return, must further undertake precisely to adapt its policy and its economy, and consequently its entire State life, to the will of the enemy Power stillruling its soil, which must suarantee that Power against French. 'British, and American thirst for revenge, and which must even be fricwJs with that Power and grant it privileged confidence 7 "Primary or international law — that alone is the question- International law forbid <-.- Germany to retain even one pebble of Belgium's streets, and commands Germany to restore the kingdom in the extent, possessions, and soveriint" which it hs>d before the invasion. Ts Belgium—as a Chancellor, a Seretarv of State, and an Ambassador have, in the name of the Kaiser and the Federal GovcHinifnt?, confessed—the innocent victim of German s<df-defencc? "Tb"n we have to ask its forgiveness, and nnt. in addition, to force conditions upon it. This," Hon- Harden concludes, "is a question of decency, morality and the honor of a nation." Remarka-blo also is the statement of the Berliner Taeeblatt: "To the Belgium as a pawn theory we o'lrcplvei cannot recede. And it is an error to l<«licvo that the rest of the w:>rld. hostile or neutral, will ever find lhi= idn.a acceptable. With the speech of Hertling we did not get anv nearer peace, and with (he speech of Mr. Balfour, we are. if possible, further from ' it than ever," "When we went to war with Germany it was with the resolve to destroy German war power. If that power' U inseparable from the German people, then we are resolved upon the destruction of the German people- The alternative is in their hands."—New York Tribune. HOPELESS ABOUT GERMANY. In a recent article in the New York Times, Mr. Frank. Bohn, a well-known Socialist, and an active member of the ''Friends of Cerman. Democracy," confesses tiiat he has been among those who since the beginning of the war have exaggerated the importance of tfie democratic forces in Germany. His roseale expectations recently suffered a very severe setback in Switzerland. Every German democratic exile in Switzerland, without one exception, emphasised with the greatest clearness that only a decisive defeat of Germany's forces could begin the work of building up a German democracy. One said: "Place absolutely no hope in any party, or in any class, within Germany. There is no considerable group in Germany which understands democracy. All criticism of the Government is based entirely on t)he fact that there is not enough food and clothing. But if the German Government can provide her people with the necessities of life as she has in the past there is no reason why she should not make war for 50 years. The German people are growing accustomed to war losses. Any suggestion t/hat the war.is an evil is met by the answer: 'Are we not better off than the others? Are we not fighting upon enemy territory Have we not won every battle?' The number of people in G-ermany who respect anything but force is negligible. Upon the manses of Germany, capitalists, professional men, and wage workers alike, economic success and the newly-found wealth have worked like a black curse. The acquisition of wealth merely destroyed the soul of Germany. I am 'hopeless, utterly hopeless, about Germany. Only complete defeat can give her a new beginning."-