GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1918, Page 5

GERMANY.

SEkIOUS SITUATION. UNUSUAL REACTIONARY ACTIVITY EBERT MERELY A FIGUREHEAD. New York, Dee. 10. _ Mr. Dosch Fleurot, writing from Berlin, says it is the open wish of the extreme Right to bring on such aisoKier throughout Germany that the Entente will be forced to send troops to occupy Berlin. By this they hope to cause a reaction which will resillt in a dictatorship, thus ending the socialisation of the country. The Reds want a dictatorship by the proletariat. The Government's situation at present is most serious, but the troops seem to be standing firm behind the Government. Regiments freshly arrived from the front; on learning of the efforts to overthrow the Ebert-Haase Government, decided to delay further demobilisation until the danger has passed. This action has given the Government a sense of security.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, Dec. 11. A Rotterdam correspondent states that the situation in Berlin shows unusual reactionary activity. The reactionaries have formed a National Party, which the Junkers and other Conservative elements have joined. The party pretends to support Herr Ebert, but is really striving to regain power. It professes to favor a republic, but really hopes to prevent the firm establishment of republican principles. The party is becoming daring, and its journals openly declare that they only support Herr Ebert until the National Assembly is convoked. Similarly the bourgeoisie parties have formed a People's Party, which is maintained by the old Centre Party, This party lias also begun open attacks on Herr Ebert. The majority of the f-eturning troops are genuinely striving to maintain constitutional government. They profess friendship for Herr Ebert, and* urge the early summoning of the Constituent Assembly, but there is daily evidence that a large proportion, led by the officers, are really reactionary. This element was responsible for the bloodshed in Berlin during the week-end. Meanwhile the Berlin Workmen's and Soldiers' Council considers itself the supreme authority, for which Herr Ebert is merely the administrative functionary. Thus Berlin is almost an exact parallel of Petrograd in the Kerensky period. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. MASTER OF THE SITUATION. EBERT'S GOVERNMENT ASSURED OP SUPPORT. Received Dec. 12, 3.15 p.m. The Hague, Dec. 11. It is believed the German Government has mastered the situation. Herr Ebert is assured of large support. Herr Ebert stated that the Government would energetically pursue a programme of work and peace, a free democracy and socialism. SITTING ON 'POWDER KEG. Received Dec. 12, 8.10 p.m. I Washington, Dee. 10. Scheldemann is anxious to resign from the German Government, in consequence of the Spartacus' group's activity. He said the Government had 80 per cent, of the German people behind them, but were sitting on a powder keg. "Aus. Cable Assoc. PATCHED-UP AGREEMENT. Amsterdam, Dec. 11. .The Prussian Soviet Minister, Stroebel, addressing a demonstration in Berlin, bitterly complained that reactionaries like Hindenburg and his myrmidons still controlled the military machine. The Prussian Minister of instruction, speaking in Berlin, declared that if the National Assembly did not secure a big Socialist Majority it would be dissolved and a proletariat dictatorship established.

A. German wireless mete age reports that prolonged deliberations between the Government and the executive of the Soviets resulted in an agreement for unanimous co-opeTation in the service of the revolution, acknowledging the Government's exclusive right and renouncing the idea of a voluntary change in the Government. FLIGHT OP MOKE ROYALTIES. Amsterdam, Dec. 11. The Berliner Mittag Zeitung reports that the Duke and Duchess of Brunswick have fled to Gouuden, upper Austria.