The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-03
Only Leader Lacking. Says
Trustworthy Refugee. for
Great Uprising.
MASSES ARE STARVING
Soldiers From Slav Nations
Ready in Thousands TO
Fight Old Masters.

LONDON. May THE correspondent
Of the Daily MaH at Annemasse. France,
telesraphs that a man Just out Of Aus
tria who had entered the little Swiss
-froaesssA- toWa- aud whose information
there Ia every reason to credit. said that
Austria ia seethins with revolution. but
is lacking in reso!ute and dauntless
this informant said
There is no means whereby the hun
CRY and angry masses can organize
themselves into effective groups. BE.
sides. the whole people is cowed by the
prospects OF punishment that might
be inflicted upon them by the Germans
III the much vaunted victory OF Luden-
dorf in the west really Is achieved. The
peace with Ukraine has scattered the
revolutionary plans to the winds for the
time being But the Ukrainian peace
has not, as it was hoped to do flled
Austrian stomachs.
Speculators Have H0ards.
The people of Austria still are starry
ing. They manage to keep body and
soul together on potatoes. mangel wur-
zels and odds and ends. but there IL bad
feeling everywhere as result OF the
under feeding and consequent illness.
Vienna itself is on the verge OF starva-
tion. and il living from hand TO mouth.
However, the food spectators are be-
lieved to have considerable boards 4
railway strike lasting two Or three days
would leave the city foodless, There Is
no catastrophe the Government fears
more than a railway strike e
"As regards the southern Slavs. the
new policy OF the United States, Italy
and the Entente, although perlously
long postponed. IL bearing fruit. The news
that the Entente recognizes separate
southern Slav nation has. in whispers.
already thrilled the Slav soldiers on the
Italian front. Unless the Germans win
a decision in the west and win it quickly
strange things are going to happen In
Austria. Another Nerdun. whatever It
,, may mean to Germany will mean de-
| spair and revolution to Austria The
people Of the latter country are mad
| with hunger"
Troops Tsrn On Masters.
Apparently bearing out the prophecy
contained in this interview. word comes
| to-day from another source that approx
imately 10000 soldiers. captured by the
| Italians while they were serving In
| Austrian commands. have volunteered
| to turn upon their former masters. and
actually are being organized as units
Of the italian army. These troops are
OF Rumanian origin, Their status will
be similar to that OF the Czech forces
! recently enrolled by Italy.
| The Austrian Cabinet situation is an
| other source Of grave anxiety TO the
Dual Monarchy. Austria is charging that
Hungary Is getting all stores that have
come from the Ukraine. Each nation is
bitterly hostile to the other, Hungarian
papers continuing to print charges of
the gravest nature against Austria. and
the press OF Vienna being equally bitter,
! II slightly more diplomatic in language.
| A plebiscite is being taken among the
Serbians. Croatians and Slovaks OF Aus
| tria-Hungary. in favor OF their union
with Serbia and Montenegro as separate
States. according to stories told b. refu-
gee. reaching Switzerland. Racial riots
, in the dual monarchy are increasing IN
frequency The reason for Emperor
Charles's conference with the Kaiser "to
discuss certain matters Of great i'm
portance' Is believed to be found in the
temper Of the starving people.
Stxtus Visits Alfonso.
The prevailing politica! chaos has
created a situation which may compe
Austria to make some separate peace
overtures in spite Of the attitude OF
Germany In this connection the visit
Of Prince Sixtus to King Alfonso is re-
garded In diplomatic circles as of great
significance. It is believed Emperor
Cha ries II fearful Of the unification OF
Continued on Second Page.