The Washington herald., 1918-06-23
HUNGRY YOUTH
PROBLEM NOW
TO AUSTRIANS
Police Warn Parents They
Must Govern Chill
dren's-Actions.
FOOD SHORTAGE ACUTE
Karl's Troops Refuse. to
Shoot Rioters, Who Ask
Bread and Peace.

London, June a2.-Children In
Austria, aged and uncontrolled as
the result Of the dire shortage Of
food, are now proving q problem
for the Vienna authorities.
The Vienna police, according to
an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
from Copenhagen, have warned the
narents of the children that they
are responsible for the actions OF
their offspring.
Diplomatic reports received here
Yesterday were interpreted as
showing that the situation which
confronts Austria Hungary is anal
osous only to the political unrest
and suffering which brought on the
Russian revolution.
Austro- Hungarian troops sent 10
restore order in Vienna and Buda-
nest have refused to attack the
rioting masses who are marching
the streets In large centers, shout
ing their hatred Of Germany.
The internal disorders are said
TO have spread to the armies In the
field.
Kniser's Grip Loesened.
srhe reported resignation. OF Or.
Won Seidler. the Austrian premier.
is regarded as a certain indication
that the German Kaisers griu on
the Vienna government II at least
temporarily weakened. DR.. Won
Seidler Is Of German origin, and is
credited with having been Will
ing tool of the Berlin authorities.
One authority said: - --sses-.-. 4
"Anything Is likely TO happen in
Austria now. II II dificult to see
how Enperor Charles can find men
with -uficient influence TO keep Aus
tria IN the war much longer"
Gen. Ludendorff. OF the German n
armies. apparently endeavors to
stem the hunger tide in Austria
with a promise Of an increased sun
nly OF grair from Bessarbia and the
Ukraine. The message only in
furiated the starving masses to
greater violence as already II had
been learned that supplies from this
source had been shut of.
LudendorfY IL said to have evaded
responsibility for not assisting Aus
tria before this to cope with the
food problem by the statement that
only enough grain was received dur
ing April and May from the Ukraine
the Western front. He added that
this supply had been exhausted.
Confer Here.
The general situation as related to
the Central Powers and Russia. with
particular reference to Austria Hum
gary, was surveyed at a series OF
conferences held here yesterday. in
which representatives OF the British.
French and Italian embassies partici-
pated. DR.. Thomas G. Masaryk, pres
ident of the Czecho-Slovak national
council, took a prominent part.
President Wilson. 1t is understood,
does not consider It advisable to make
another public appeal which could be
used as propaganda in Austria Hun
gary. The United States Is no longer
seeking peace by diplomacy or COM
promise. But in the movement to re-
cruit a foreign legion from the sub
jects OF the disgruntled nationals Of
the dual empires a most effective
weapon against continued German
domination In Austria Hungary Is be-
lieved to have been found.
It Is now known that the amend
ment to the military appropriations
bill authorizing a Slavic legion in the
United States was drafted at the sug-
geston of Secretary Lansing. The
amendment was written by Senator
Hitchcock, chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee. and a member
Of the Military Affairs Committee.
General Miles Interested.
Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, retired.
former chief of stan of the army.
called upon Senator Hitchcock to ex-
press his approval Of the idea and
urged the proposed Slavic unit be
used as far as possible in connection
with any Siberian project that may
be devised as a means towards solv-
ing the Russian problem.
Senator Hitchcock also expects to
confer early in the week with DIR.
Masaryk and with Ignace Jan Pader-
ewski. who recently directed the or
ganization in America Of a Polish
legion now in Europe. The Senator
explained that enlistment in this legion
would also be open to Russians. They
are not specially mentioned in the
amendment, but this, said Senator
Hitchcock. was deemed unnecessary.
IS a.