The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-09-14
IN THE FATHERLAND.
INTERESTING BITS OF NEWS
FROM THE GREAT GERMAN
EMPIRE.
WHAT'S DOING IN OLD HOME
Summary Of the ".ocs Important Hap
penlngs In the Land OF the Kaiser
Timely Items for the German
Readers.

shortage by one of the most novel
schemes of the war, was the story
brought from Berlin. One hundred
tons of fine machinery used in the
manufacture of shells, have been car
ried from the Austrian frontier across
Serbia and Bulgaria to Turkey In Yep
pelins. The Zeppelins travelled by
night to escape detection by the Bull
garian border patrols and protests
against violation of Bulgarian terri
tory. Each of the dirigibles carried
from three to four tons of machinery
for the Turkish ammunition works
Nearly dozen of the largest zeppe-
Inns were used on the $50 mile flights
from the Austrian to the Turkish bor-
der
The Berlin Vorwaerts, in discussing
the new German war loan, directs at
tention to what 1t characterizes as the
alarming financial situation which
Germany must face at the conclusion
of the war. After the war;" says the
paper, "the imperial debt and pensions
alone will demand an annual expendi-
ture of at least $625, 100000, Or lit
tie less than the united ordinary ard
extraordinary imperial expenditure for
1912. In other words, the income of
the empire hitherto will only suffice
to pay the interest on the national
debt. For all other expenses new
sources of taxation must be created.
The reichstag INDUCED in military
debate for the first time during the
war. Only one member of the cham
Der, Daniel Stuecklen, voiced any criti-
cism Of the government and these
were of minor character and carried
no complaints and expressed no de-
sire regarding the conduct of the war.
On the contrary Herr Stuecklen paid
tribute to the strategic genius Of the
leaders and to the bravery of the
troops. May the day soon come"
Herr Stuecklen said in concluding,
when this murderous war will cease"
In the exhibition of war atrocities
that has been opened in Dresden,
showing the way In which the popu-
larity of German leaders is being ex-
plotted for trade purposes. General
Won Hindenburg is the chief victim,
his portrait being shown on scores of
candy boxes, cigar cases, ash trays,
mustard pots, pocket handkerchiefs
and even doormats. The emperor and
crown prince also receive considera-
BILE attention, while many articles Of
common use are found ornamented
with the iron cross.
The ordinary beer drinker Is not the
only person to suffer from the mate
rial restriction in the production of
beer, in order that grain may be
saved for food purposes. Whole COM
munities are feeling the decreased
tax income. In the district compris-
ing Greater Berlin 1t Is estimated
there is to be tax reduction of about
80 per cent on beer because of the re-
duced production and eight communi-
ties in this district are going to go
without a cent of beer income during
the current year. ,
The German occupation of Brest-
Litovsk brings the Russian retreat to
a catastrophe. Never before In the
worlds history was an army of 3,000,-
900 men smashed and whole king
dom given up as Poland has been to
the Germans. 1t now seems possible
that the Germans will reach Petro-
grad and Odessa and thus end the
great war. Not only Is the Russian
army badly crippled, but demoraliza-
ton and disorganization Of the whole
army have resulted. ,s..,
The German government has in
formed the Holland government that
a German airship, driven from it's
course by contrary winds, August 90,
flew over Dutch territory. AS soon as
the commander noticed he was on the
wrong course, he changed the direc.
ton of the airship. Strict instructions
have been given to commanders of
airships to avoid flying over neutral
territory.
The newly issued German Shake
speare society's yearbook shows that
988 performances of Shakespeare
plays were given in Germany in 1914.
There was sharp decrease in July,
but theatrical neutrality gained the
day and the end of the year found the
usual number of performances being
given CAS- You Like IT. led, with 129
performances.
"The struggle is not yet ended, but
if God wills it, once the day will ar
rive when what does not bend must
break" declared Chancellor Won Beth
mann-Hollweg in an address before a
great crowd that gathered before his
official residence in patriotic demon
stration after Germanys second war
loan had been passed by the reichstag
without dissenting vote.
Total Prussian losses to August "a
in killed, wounded and missing were
1.740,S36, according to the Nieuwe
Rotterdamsche Courant.
The occupied regions of Poland and
Russia, under German administration,
have been formed into a general gov
ernship and placed, like Belgium, ur..
der a general governor. For this post,
rrOy1 pocaIpr 1onororrr -