GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1919, Page 5

GERMANY.

SITUATION MORE PRECARIOUS SPARTACISTS ENGINEERING STRIKES. SOCIALISATION OP MINES DEMANDED. Received Feb. 20/5.5 p.m. London, Feb 19. • Berlin advices state that the situation in Germany becomes daily more precariout, owing to the great activity of the | Spartacists. A .general strike has now broken out iu the Puhr region. The strikers at Essen declare that not a single coal will W given to the present Government, and that the strike will be continued until the socialisation of the Ruhr mining industry is accomplished and the Government troops recalled. The Spartacists are directing the entire movement. Alarming reports from Weimar state that the post office there is occupied the military and that troops are held |n readiness. I The srike of the employees in the large t jrtores of Berlin is assuming large proportions. Over 60,000 have struck, and it iV expected that Berlin will be without •hofts shortly. The Spartacists suppressed the newspapers in the Ruhr region, while armed Spartacists from Essen, Dusseldorf, and other places are pouring into Mulheim, ■Which 13 apparently the centre of the pnovement. Later reports say the Government is discussing the situation. The mines are ill the hands of the communists. A telegram from Hanover states that 30,000 loyal troops have been brought to Suppress the strike.—Reuter. •THEFT" OF GERMAN COLONIES. MEETINGS OF PROTEST. Received Feb. 20, 5.5 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 18. Meetings continue throughout Germany protesting against the theft of the Genmw colonies and the retention of priwntis. Herr Erzberger has sent a lone communication to Marshal Foch refusLig to place the German mercantile marine at the disposal of the Entente unless agreements are reached assuring Germany's food supply and safeguarding the German crews.—Reuter. TUBERCULOSIS BEYOND CONTROL. 1 FATE OF GERMAN MANHOOD. HEW SPARTACUS OUTBREAKS THREATENED. Received Feb. 20, 5.5 p.m. New York, Feb. 17. rWtssor Magnus Hirchveld, r leading Geripan psychiatrist, interviewed, said that tuberculosis in Germany was beyond control, and German manhood was doomed to degeneracy. There is also a danger that illegitimacy and disease will reduce Germany to decadent, pestilential (waste. A United Press message from Weimar •ays that Herr Haase, addressing the national Assembly, declared that the Workmen's and Soldiers' Councils would jontinnein existence until the coalition gorernment demonstrated its intention to socialise the new German republic. Herr Haase threatened new Spartacus outbreaks unless the Government carried out socialisation.—United Service. ' fHE ALSACE-LORRAINE QUESTION. PROTEST AGAINST CONSIDERING IT CLOSED. j Received Feb. 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Feb. 18. Herr Brockdorff Rantzau, the German Toreign Secretary, has communicated •with the United States and the Allies protesting against considering the Al-sace-Lorraine question closed until the peace treaty has been concluded.—Aus. fX. Cable Assoc.