Omaha daily bee., 1918-02-28
BREAK BETWEEN
CENTRAL POWERS
BELIEVED NEAR
Dispatch Refers to Meeting
Between Emperors and Says
There Is No Doubt of
Serious Conflict.

Washington, Feb; 27.-Further evi.
dence of the growing strain in re.
lations between Germany and Austria
over the refusal of the latter to partici-
pate in the renewed attack upon Rus.
sia is given in an official dispatch re-
ceived here today from France. II
quotes the Austrian premier as formal.
ly reiterating on February 20 that
Austria Hungary will take no part in
military action against Russia or Rou.
mania, and will not send her troops
into Ukrainia.
MAY USE VIOLENCE.
The dispatch refers to the meeting
between Emperors Charles and Will
liam, February q, and says there
seems little doubt that a serious con-
fict has arisen between the two ma
tons which Germans is determined
to settle by violent measures if neces-
cary. The dispatch follows:
Charles l. paid visit to William
II. the I'D Of February. Ludendorf
was present atthe interview. If we
are to Judge from the tone Of the
interview il must have been lacking in
cordiality. There seems to be
little doubt but what serious con-
hict has broken out during the week
between the courts of Vienna and
Berlin and which Germany is deter
mined to settle if need be by violent
measures. .-s
e Distinguishes Policies. 5l
"The international situation Of the
dual monarchy is such that the VII
emma government in. order to avert "a
catastrophe has been obliged to- dis
tinguish by means Of public declara-
tions its own policy from that of Ger
many. The report that at the con-
ferences of February Ia, Hertling and
Ludendorff had decided to pay no at.
tention to the Russian rehabilitation
and to prepare to begin again the
conflict on the east front caused a
great stir throughout Austria. 1t was
not simply the dissenting nationali-
ties, the Czechs, the Slovenes, or the
Poles who do not desire to fight any
more, but it is the ass of the popu-
lation of German origin who refuse
to sacrifice themselves any longer to
assure the triumph of Prussian i'm
perialism.
"An official note of the 18th had
announced that Austria for her part
would continue to consider the war
as terminated with Russia and would
abstain from taking part in the op-
erations planned by the German COM
mand. A second note of the 10Th re-
peated the same statement. When
asked to give further particulars at
the sitting of the chamber on the
22d the Austrian premier formally
stated:
Words Are Inexplicit. .
"The words uttered by different
deputies have proved that the expla-
nation which has been furnished up to
the present by me, has not been suf-
ficiently explicit. I repeat, therefore,
that Austria Hungary will participate
in no way in the military acton which
is now being carried on by Germany
against Russia. repeat that the
armistice exists between Austria-Hun-
gary and Rumania and that we are
only considering entering as early as
possible into peace conversations with
this country .'z* ...s
These declarations are serious.
Without a doubt in his speech on the
10Th of February, Seydler pleaded
his fidelity to the alliance. But more
and more Germany runs the risk of
seeing Austria, and after her Bulgaria
and Turkey take a positive attitude
and practically Withdrawing from the
and witness as spectators the
continuation of hostilities." .