Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-13
AUSTRIAN ARMY REPORTED
NEARING MuT|NY POINT
News OF Suffering and Tragedies u
Homo Causing Disafrection
Among KarI's Troops
GROWING HATE OF GERMANY
Terror Of Prussia May Keep Gov
ernmcnt From Making Peace, but
1t Will Not Keep People From
Throwing on Yoke.


ITALY, August 12.-Depression has laid
hold of the Austro- Hungarian fighting
on the Italian front, and with depres-
sion has come distrust of their allies,
the Germans. On the day following
the Italian success / got orders to be
prepared for 800 wounded and sick
prisoners. who were to BIO treated bo-
fore being passed to the base.
When they arrived I was struck at
once with the contrast between them
and the Austrian soldiers | had known
year ago. and even few weeks back
They were no longer confident OF vic
tory, and almost without exception they
denounced tho criminal folly Of tho
Germans, whom they held TO be re-
sponsible for the prolongation OF the
war.
The first prisoner I talked to was a
major of about thirty-six years. with
over three years of war service to his
credit I had the surprise of my life
when 1 asked for his name. for he
bore the good old Scottish name OF
Keith. Seeing my surprise no offered
few biographical details by--way Of
enlightenment. lie is descended from
scion OF the Kintore family who took
service with the Austrians after serv-
inG under an Industrious kinsman who
won fame with the Swedes In the DAYS
OF Gustavus Adolphus. Knowing how
strict are the orders against troubling
patients with political questions.
tried to keep Major Keith off the sub
jet he wanted to speak about but Il
was useless. He was bent on talking
of what was uppermost in his mind
and in the minds OF nearly every man
among the prisoners have dealt with.
He volunteered remarkable state
mcnt.
To-day Austria has been brought
to the verge OF ruin by Germany" he
declared. THE people of the dual mon
archy would fain have peace They
would fain get back to the old rela-
tons with Britain which prevailed be-
fort the Austro- Pruss!an War OF 1866.
The Emperor Karl Is secretly pro-
British, but the country is overrun by
German secret agents. who are ready TO
make trouble at the least sign of an
between Austria and the
entente powers. 1t is common knowl-
edge that on several occasions recently /
our government has declared it's readi- /
ness for peace. and have been told that
on the day Austria makes a seperate
peace with the allies, or even opens
negotiations for the purpose. a million
Germans will march on Vienna
1t is this therat that keeps our gov
eminent allied TO Germany. The posi-
ton is rapidly becoming intolcrablc
All over the country the people are
crying for peace and bread. and our
government is not able to give them
but does not want peace.
I'm the great towns discomfort Is
spreading, and when was last in
Budapest there was rioting almost
daily in front OF the town hall Wom-
EN- and children demonstrated in favor
OF peace and food. They were at
tackled by armed police and shot down. /
Some of the soldiers took exception to
the brutality of the police. and
number of the police were shot dead. (
For months past the munitIon workers
have been refusing to keep up the out
put: in consequence, We have been
urged by headquarters to economist in /
shells The delivery Of shells neces- !
sary to keep up reserve stocks has
ceased altogether for some Of our d. |
The working-class population have !
round their rations reduced by about |
VI "Ildl tney uSeQ TO be In
prewar days, and the cost OF every
thing has gone UP so much that in spite
of the reduced quantities allowed II
costs twice as much as il did before
me war to feed working-class family. |
wages are only slightly higher and /.
N some trades are even lower.
In any of our great towns you may |
see professions OF women and children |
crying for food or crying for the re-
II Of h,tch No., Il
gone to the war. or gone to their death !
TOT Germany. The people know we'll |
that 1t Is for Germany. r. rather. for !
Prussia. that all this sacrifice is be-
ing made. and they are increasingly |
Dittcr against the Prussians and their |
Kaiser.
The strikes that are taking place ali I
over the empire are but the beginning, |
and unless the young emperor handles /
the position with great care he Will |
IN