WAR AUTHORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1920, Page 5

WAR AUTHORS.

THE ANSWER OF GERMANY. KO SURRENDER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrljht, Received Feb. 9, 9.50 p.m. Berlin, Feb. 6. Herr Schiffer, Minister for Justice, the Cabinet unanimously decided not to surrender the war criminals.— Atis.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WHAT GERMANY SAYS. • »—— THE SURRENDER OPPOSED. SURPRISE AT THE LIST, s THE GOVERNMENT IN DANGER. tocaired I^b.'o, U. 40 pim. :.!• '.. I*ndon,.FelK 6. The Berlin correspondent of the-D*jly Telegraph state* the German fury at the Block List is largely due- to -surprise. They expected the list to be of obscure, persona charged with personal guilt. They did' not expect the names oi popular commanders, least of all Hindenburg, whose position is still unique. He Js being illogically regarded as the saviour Of the country. It is considered profanity even to doubt him. The idea* of surrendering Hindenburg hurt* more than all the rest combined. Despite the present turbulence, Germany will probably cool down, and the Government swallow this bitterest of all peace pills, but it will trouble the mass .of Germans, who lived in a war-time fool's paradise of official inventions and suppressions, and either did not know of the atrocities committed, or were made to believe the Germans acted in self-defence. The majority of Germans still believe that practically all the savagery was on the Allied side. • It cannot be too strongly emphasised that Germany Is still going to pieces, though the speed of her dissolution has Utterly, checked. The Government is already nearly insolvent, and only pays it* bills by borrowing. Bolshevism is gaMng ground. The Government is weak and unpopular, but is the best pos- : sible in the circumstances. The only alternatives are a military dictatorship or • proletarian dictatorship. The Government's position is extremeiv difficult. It only signed the Peace Trea"ty because it had no alternative, and it U doubtful a it can fulfil it.

A UNIVERSAL OUTCRY. Few people were willing to surrender the culprits before the list was known, but now the outcry against surrender is notorial The forcible arrest of Hindenburg i» out of the question. He would be aJ»LI man who would attempt to lay a finger on the national idol. The only pertfns who could be employed to arrest the oulpriti are the police and troops, who are still under officers of the old army. They are the Government's main prop against Bolshevism. If an attempt wM made to use them it would bo the •evtrtet strain on discipline. It U doubtful if it would be possible to find the culprit* if they chose to hide, because they would find innumerable sanctuaries. The only solution appears to be voluntary surrender. Probably the Government will appeal to them to surrender on patriotic grounds, because the country is at the Allies' mercy.

HMDENBURG WILL SURRENDER.

Berostorff says he does not know why the trench, demand him, unless it is in connection with the 8010 bribery. "He Informed the Government that he is prepared to go voluntarily, but he was told to await developments. It is understood Hindenburg i« willing, but it is unlikely *ii#jr others will volunteer to surrender.

A large number, including Ludendorff and Tirpite, foregathered at Berlin to discuss concerted action- Von Buclow says they are acting on the principle that no one should surrender voluntarily. It is no dishonor to evade extradition. Ludendorff and Tirpitz are silent. Allied business men state they receive * f ririd reception everywhere. Nothing Will be doing until after the affair is settled. .Most of the Allied Military Missions wear mufti. SUBMARINERS HAVE FLED. The Government meeta the Party Executive on Saturday to discuss the situation before consulting the National Assembly. Ministers agree that the detnands cannot be carried out because the Government has neither sufficient force nor authority. Thev regard it as a matter of life or death, and they do not expect the Allies will make concessions. It simply means a deadlock, with the Government passively, awaiting the consequences. A aayal officer stated that most of the submarine commanders, anticipating the demand, have already fled, announcing that they will not return to the Fatherland, whose revolution Btabbed them in the back. They will never surrender, «ven if Germany is blockaded until the last woman and child is starved. The Berlin Council of Empire endorsed the Government's viewpoint that the Allies' demands are impossible of realUa-*»o.—AUS.-N.Z. Gable Assn.

THREAT BY THE ALLIES. 4ERMAN7 TO SUPPLY A LIST. Received Feb. 9, 8.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 6. The newspapers state the Allies' cov~ Wag letter warns Germany that if the war criminals are not surrendered the Allies may detach the Rhine Provinces m a neutral State. It hi rumored Germany intends to retaliate for the Black List by presenting ft Urt of alleged Allied war crimes.—Aus.$2. Cabl. Asm " A SOLUTION. SEUTRAL TRIAL SUGGESTED. Received Feb. 9, 11.40 p.m. Geneva, Feb. 6. The* German Government intends to propose the surrender of the war criminal* to a Swis» iribunal—Aus.-N.Z.