GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1919, Page 5

GERMANY.

* GENERAL STRIKE. Started in Berlin. -Received March 6, 125 a.m. London, March 4 _ The general strike has started in Berlin, accompanied by riots. The Spartaciats disarmed the police. Horr Noske, addressing the Assembly t'-oopi. declared a state of siege— Times Service. Copenhagen, March 4. Martial law ha 3 been declared in Berlin. The German National Assembly has been dissolved at Weimar.—Reuter.

FIGHTING COMMENCES. JPOUCE AND SPARTACISTS KILLED Received March 6, 1.5 am. Amsterdam, March 4. ' Fighting occurred in the Lichtenburg kfliMrfo of Berlin. A number of_ -joHie •nd Spartaeiits were killed and wounded, and bakers' and butchers' shops pi l .- laged— Ans. and V2. Cable Assoc. A GENERAL POLITICAL (STRIKE. TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY. Received March 8, 1.15 a.m. Berlin, March 4. The Independent Socialists have announced a general political strike in Germany, to begin immediately, in order to obtain political recognition of the Soviets, and overthrow the Scheidemann Cabinet—Ans- and NX Cable Assoc. " CONDITIONS CHAOTIC AND CRITICAL. HOEES OF AVOIDING A GENERAL STRIKE.

Amsterdam, March 3. Telegrams from Berlin state that conditions remain chaotic and critical. The newspaper strike continues. The Vorwarts is the only paper published. The Socialists distributed by aeroplane throughout Germany three million copies of a proclamation urging the workers to oppose the terrorism of the minority. The proclamation and the threat of officials and business people to institute a counter-strike has made a deep impression upon the workers, who hope that a general strike will be avoided. There has been serious street fighting Jbetween Government troops and the workers at Leipzig, which is threatened with famine. General von Lettow on arriving from Africa had a remarkable public welcome at the Brandenburg Gate. The crowd jeered and hissed the Allied officers in the neighborhood and it was necessary to bar the doors of their hotel.—Aus.NX Cable Assn. A sensation has been caused in Germany by the fact that during the debate on the Army Bill at Weimar, Deputy Cohn confessed that when Wolff left Berlin he transferred to Cohn a million sterling, nominally to assist the Russian civilians, and also gave him control of 15$ million roubles at MendelsBohs'i Bank in Berlin. Cohn said he regarded the money, as party funds, and used iome to subsidise party news-papers.—Abs.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

TROOPS CONCENTRATING, TO MARCH AGAINST MUNICH. Paris, March 3. it » atated that troops are concentrating between Ratisbon. Passau, and Ingolstadt, intending to march against Munich. Copenhagen, March 4. German political circles expect another revolution. It is stated that the workmen will proclaim a renewal of the •ttike until the Soviets are given police powers, also the establishment and elec;ion of a council to control all industries ind a tribunal for the trial of prominsnt military and political leaders, also that a peace be negotiated with the Ruslian Soviet. The Vbrwarts publishes the Majority Socialists' proclamation urging the workin to oppose a general strike. RETURN OF GERMAN PRISONERS. FOCH DECLINES THE REQUEST.

Received March 5, 7.30 pjn. Amsterdam, May 4. The Kolnische Zeitung states that Marshal Foch, replying to Herr Erzberger's request for the return of German prisoners, declared that there cannot, at present be any question of their retain, but the Allies will favorably contider the early repatriation of the seriWflj ill and wounded.—Reuter.

BOLSHEVIK KEPUBLIC ESTAB- * LISHED. fOOD SUPPLIES AND HOSTAGES. Received March 5, 9.40 p.m. New York, March 3. The New York Times' Rotterdam correspondent states that what might be fanibed as a Bolshevik republic has been-established in Bavaria. A food Sommissioner luu been appointed at Munich, and all food is allocated in such manner that laborers will obtain rations double those issued to the bourgeoise. A list of fifty names from the upper glasses has been prepared, and the persons listed will be held as hostages if necessity should arise. If one revolutionist is killed by the reactionaries ten hostages will be shot.—Aus. NX Cable Assoc.

REJECTION OF PEACE TERMS. GERMANY'S LAST TRUMP, London, March .3. The 'Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph warns the Allies that no German Government will sign a treaty embodying some of the conditions now freely advocated by the Allies. If the Germans reject the treaty offhand the Allies' difficulties will increase tenfold. When Marshal Focli presented his recent armistice terms Herr Rantzau asked his colleagues to insist on their rejection. They agreed regarding the employment of this weapon, but decided to l'e.-X'i ve it for the definite peace terms when the rejection will represent Germany's last trump.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SPARTACIST STRIFEMONGERS IX OCCUPIED ZONE. PROPAGANDISTS ON NEW ZEALAND FRONT. (Special from the Official New Zealand War Correspondent.) February 2G. German Spartacists are endeavoring to stir up trouble in tb'c occupied zone. Yesterday there were surreptitiously distributed a large number of leaflets in the New Zealand area urging our men 1 to join with Germans in appointing .soldiers' councils. English and French bankers, capitalists, and lords are, they say, making them the watchdogs of their illigoiten gains. The circular urges them to do away with the capitalist class as the Russian Bolsheviki have done, and adds that there have been bloody en- [ counters between the Red and White Guards all over Germany. They state that the British and French Governments are secret friends of Prussian militarism. The leaflet claims our soldiers as brothers. ''Remember your traditions as Englishmen and free men. Don't do the work of tyrants. Strike a daring blow for freedom. Elect your own councils of soldiers and deputies and join your Russian and German fellow-workers in the ia>k of emancipating your class," conclude*- this precious circular, which has only amused the New Zealanders, who are keen to obtain copies of it as souvenirs of their watch on the Rhine. This morning, on an equestrian statue in the Hansar.xtrasse. the old legend, "Gott Strafe England" was painted in bold lettering. Tt was promptly obliterated by British soldiers. The German authorities are taking steps to quell the Bolshevik rising in Dusseldorf, and are sending troops to take the necessary action.