The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-12-06
IN The fATHERI.AND
INTERESTING BITS OF NEWS
FROM THE GREAT GERMAN
EMPIRE.
WHAT'S DOING IN OLD HOME
Summary OF the Most Important Hap
penngs in the Land of the Kaiser
Timely Items for the German
Readers.

Il,
many, who returned to America on
two months leave of absence Since
the German has had to save food so
carefully he no longer overeats. Most
Germans have lost between 10 and 20
pounds, and the whole nation is in
far better health than before the war.
Germany lacks only fats and woolenS."
Mr.. Eager said that it was difficult to-
realize that a war was going on in
Barmen, which is in the interior not
far from Dusseldorf. The only evil
denceS of ii are the many soldiers
home on furlOugh and the women who
have taken over the mems work. Ger
many does not lack the necessities Of
life" said Mr.. Eager. There is plenty
of food for another winter, especially
since the recent harvest, which is n
recOrd-breaker Large quantities OF
live stock are being fattened in prepa-
ration for Il hard winter. In Dussel-
dorf alone are more than 100000 heif-
ers."
Interest in the announcement re
ceived in Vienna that President Viii
son intends taking concrete action in
behalf of peace, continues undated,
though in many Austrian circles the
view is held that the attitude of the
allies will render Mr. Wilson's efforts,
futile. While President Wilson's good
intentions are not in the least doubted
and while his offer might gladly be ac-
tod 4 Al,
would gain undue and uniustitied en-
cOuragement if Observation-Disclosures were
to pit it's own modest claim against
those of the allies still seeking the dual
mOnarchy'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. In view
of these facts it may be announced
that peace negotiations of any sort,
even a preliminary conference for de
tining the minimum claims of all of the
belligerents, will remain impossible SO
long as the allies do not beforehand in
dictate readiness to abandon their
present attitude.
The American Association of Com
merce and Trade of Berlin has been
investigating the rumors circulated
preparing to dump enormous quaint
ties of cheap goods in the United
States after the close of the war. Ac-
cOrding to those rumorS Germany has
modified q vast army of ill-paid old
men, women and children to work on
cheap, staple goods for export. Ac-
cording to the associations weekly
\ n
on INSTRUMENTATION. 1t finds that there
is no surplus labor in Germany that
could be diverted to the production of
the goods in question.
Former King Otto of Bavaria, who
has been insane for many years, mas
died suddenly at FuerStenreid castle,
near Munich, where he has been CON
fined since 1873. King Otto was born
on April 27, 1913, and succeeded his
brother, Ludwig ii, in 1886. Ludwig
III also was insane and drowned him
self in Starnberg lake. King Otto was
depOsed on November 5, 1913, and was
succeeded by the present monarch,
Ludwig III, formerly regent.
The reichsbank has opened offices
all over Germany for the purchase Of
gold. Appeal has been made to the
public urging the sale of gold jewelry
to the bank to allow an increased is
sue of notes, of which One-third must
be covered by gold. JewelTy is to be
paid for at full value, and as a fur
ther compensation to the owners iron
chains are to be presented with the
inscription, gold for defense; iron for
honor"
The German government in AN Off
cial statement refutes the recently
published report that prisoners in Ger
man prison camps had been intention
ally infected with tuberculosis and
then sent home or into a neutral coun-
try in order to propagate the plague.
All prison camps in Germany, the
statement says, may be inspected at
any time by persons charged with
maintaining the interests Of the bellig-
erent countries.
Macmillan Harden, writing in Die
Zukunft, eulOgizes President Wilson
as a IMAM of high moral and spiritual
rank-a man of whom we would be
proud if we had him." adding that
much which is foolish and shameless
has been said about Mr.. Wilson, and
his election is hailed as one no German
may belittle."
Altogether, 24,500 bags of mail from
Germany and 1920 bags destined for
Germany were confscated by the Brit
ish and French authorities from De-
cember, 1915, to the end Of September,
1916 Only q small part of the seized
mail was afterwards redispatched to
it's destination. The seizures are given
as follows: From Germany to the
United States, 17,110 bags; to Spain,
Portugal and South America, 1925
bags. To Germany from the United
States, 1857 bags; from Spain, POrtu-
gal and South America on Dutch and
Norwegian steamers, 2,438 bags.
The German government has eX-
pressed regret for the action of Ger
man airship in cruising over Dutch
territory October % The note said
TO. I,c1 -, he, tIn