GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1919, Page 7

GERMANY.

RUSSIAN AND BAVARIAN SOVIETS. Berlin, April 10. It is reported that diplomatic relations have been established between the Russian and Bavariari Soviets. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Asan. EFFECT OF WAR ON POPULATION. London, April 9. The population of Germany before the war was 68 millions, and is now 65 millions. Of one and a quarter million foreigners Germany contained before the war, half a million have left. If the peace treaty deprives Germany of three and one-ninth million inhabitants, the population will be CI 2-5 millions, but Austria's joining in will add 6i millions thereto. —Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. RIOTS IN FRANKFORT. London, April 1. There was serious rioting on Monday m Frankfort. The crew roughly handled a sailor, threw him into the Main and he was drowned. The crowd proceeded to the gaol, liberated the prisoners and fired the building. Order has been restored. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. "MUST RETAIN COLONIES." AN EMPHATIC AND OUTRIGHT DEMAND. London, April 8 The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Express interviewed Herr Johannes Bell, Colonial Secretary, who istatcd that, despite party differences on ill other subjects, the National Assembly was united on the colonial question and unanimously of opinion that Germany must retain her colonies. The whole people will back its representatives in Paris in demanding restoration, based on President Wilson's fifth point. The retention of the colonies is a matter of honor. Germany had begun a colonisation programme and begun to elevate the natives to a higher plane of culture. The work must proceed or Germany will be branded with failure in the colonial field. If the colonies were taken it would leave an unforgettable heart sting and stigma, and which will keep alive a secret yearning for revenge. Colonies are an economic necessity to Germany. On the other hand Germany before the war was the fliost dangerous commercial competitor of England and America owing to her lower cost of production. If she was deprived of her colonies she would be an even more dangerous competitor. Herr Bell added that Germany would make an emphatic and outright demand to keep the colonies. She would not meekly sign anything the Entente pro-posed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OBSOLETE GERMAN GUNS. London, April S. The Cologne correspondent of the Daily Express states that among the German guns surrendered at Cologne were 400 obsolete guns, some of which were used in the Franco-Prussian war. The most modern is dated 1894 and some rusted bronze mortars are of the 1870 pattern. German workmen are busy reloading them into trucks and the German Government has been notified that it must replace them with modern weapons.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A9sn.