The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-01-10
IN THE FATHERLAND
INTERESTING BITS OF NEWS
FROM THE GREAT GERMAN
EMPIRE.
WHAT'S DOING IN OLD HOME
Summary Of the Most important Hap
penings In the Land of the kaiser
Timely Items for the German
Readers.

The following official statement gives
an outline of the policy of the new
ministry of Austria-Hungary. This
government has been intruSted with
the direction of affairs at serious
time and office has been assumed with
feeling of great responsibility.
Among its earliest tasks will be the
conclusion of treaty between the two
states constituting the monarchy re-
regarding economic relations. Another
task will be the establishment of closer
relations with the German empire.
Both tasks will tend toward the politi-
cal and economic consolidation of Aus
tria. Other tasks in prospect are So
cial problems which have considerably
increased in Importance since the war,
the development of popular education,
and new regulations for state economy.
The duty of feeding the people will be
the first care of the ministry"
From December, 1915, TO the last of
September, 1916. the British and
French naval authorities seized "a, 200
mail bags going from Germany and
1880 bound for Germany. OF those
from Germany 17,110 were bound for
the United States and 6,225 for South
America or Spain. Of those going to
Germany 1887 were from the United
States and 2,43S from South America
or Spain. British and French censors
apparently exchange seized mails, to
help blacklists. The German Trans
pOrtation Gazette states these seizures
violate the international postal union
treaty and the second Hague confer
ence.
Three German army officers who es-
capped from a Siberian prison camp
have been killed in Mongolia by Rus
sian soldiers, according to the Chinese
foreign office. The officers were Capt.
Max Graeff, Lieut.. Ludwig Won Wer-
ner, and Lieut.. Hans Won HOffmeister,
former German foreign office attache.
After their escape from the prison
camp in Siberia they made their way
to Urga in northern Mongolia. A Chi
nese military escort started thence
with the Germans for Picking. The
Chinese foreign office now has advised
the German legation in Picking that
Russian troops seized and killed the
officers.
A law prohibiting the importation
into Austria-Hungary of all articles
Of Ivy off nINo,~
%. The list includes southern fruits,
champagne, chocolate, high-priced tex
tiles, such as silk and half silk gar
ments, furs, toys, jewelry, musical in
Struments and perfumery. The intent
Of the law is to prevent the outgo of
money to foreign countries and cause
improved exchange rates. Travellers
to Austria-Hungary are warned not
to wear jewelry, which will be confis-
Gated at the border.
The Hungarian parliament has COM
pleted arrangements for the corona
ton of King Karl by electing Count
Tisza as paladin and SO of It's men,
berS as his assistants. Count T1sza's
election followed a hard fight with
the opposition which supported Arch
duke Joseph. The paladin is the func-
tionary who places the crown on the
kings head. Despite the war, 1t Is
intended to make the coronation an
elaborate affair.
The Berliner Tageblatt and other
newspapers commented in sympathetic
fashion on President Wilson's sugges-
ton regarding the peace terms Of the
belligerentS. 1--WE welcome the step
taken by President Wilson," says the
Tageblatt, "as we welcome every step
that is made in order to bring about
peace" The Vorwaerts, the social
list organ, says: "The presidents note
serves the cause of peace"
In political circles in Vienna the
appointment of Count Czernin Won Chu-
denitz as Austro-Hungarias foreign
minister is looked upon as a culmina-
ton of the efforts Of Kaiser Karl In
pursuance of the desire attributed to
him to solidify the relations between
Austria and Hungary. Count Czernin
is German-Bohemian with success
full record as a diplomat.
French court-martials have SEN
fenced to death two more women,
one named DUsays, born in Ca,dis Of
a German mother and Luxembourg IA
Their; the other a widow, named Itch
ely of Swiss nationality. Both were
accused Of giving information to
Germany regarding the operations of
the French army.
DR.. Won Bethmann-HOllweg, the Ger
man imperial chancellor, in secret
conference with the party leaders pre-
ceding his announcement of Germany's
peace offer in the reichstag was given
full power to conduct peace negotia-
tons without further consultation even
with the party leaders.
Austrian battle losses have led in
surance firms to indemnify girls
against failure to find husbands. Pre-
miums are graded according TO a girls
lOoks-the unprepOssessing paying
heayieS