ABOUT THE ENEMY

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16216, 20 May 1918, Page 7

ABOUT THE ENEMY

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and X.55. Cable Association.) (Receive May 19th, 0.5 p.m.) BER.XE, May 18. Reports indicate that the meeting between tho Kaiser and the Emperor Karl proved unsatisfactory. The conference was much shorter than was planned, and tho return of the Emporor Karl to Austria has caused most diverse comments in Germanv.

(Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.) (United Service.)

BERNE, May 18.

It is reported from Vienna that :i deputation of Czechs, including members of Parliament, warned the Premier, Ritter von Seidler, that if the Government created a constitution for Bohemia on the German model tho Czechs would raise a sanguinary revolution.

Von Seidler told a strikers' deputation that the prospect of a general peace was not hopeless. The Kaiser was doing his best to bring about negotiations.

A Berlin official notification states that the daily bread rations will bo reduced from the middle of Juno from 200 to 160 grammes, owing to the arrivals of Ukraine grain being disappointing.

(Received May 19tli, 5.5 p.m.)

PARIS, May 18.

Admiral von Tirpitz has formed a. secrct organisation, which is working against the heads of the Navy, especially Admiral von Capelle (Minister of the Navy). The members of the organisation rogard the Navy's inaction as inglorious, aud demand expeditions to the British and French coasts.

(Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.)

AMSTERDAM, May 18

The Hamburg Senate has forwarded to the Bundsrath Hamburg's special war aims, which include an adequate indemnity, preferably raw material; an adequate colonial empire; payment of all foreign debts due to the Germans; redress of the grievances of Germans abroad; prohibition of boycotts and other hostile measures .aimed at German goods, and the re-estnblishm«sit of the German mercantile marine on all oceans, with equal rights with other nations.

(Received May 19th, 5.5 p.m.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

MONTE VIDEO, May 18

The German Government has notified Uruguay that a state of war does not exist between the two nations. The Germans responded to a request from Uruguay that Germany should define her attitude.

LONDON, May 17. German statistics show a decline in the birth-rate, compared with the prewar rate, representing a decline of 2,000,000 babies in three years. Tho infantile death-rato is fairly low, but it is high compared with that of England.

AMSTERDAM, May 17. A Gorman Commission on the declining birth-rate recommonds compulsory marriage. It suggests an age limit of twenty, with financial help, but penalties are provided for childless unions.

AMSTJ3RDAM, May 17. Count Wekerle, the Hungarian Premier, in a speech in the Hungarian Chamber, denied that the new AustroGerman treaty affected the independence of the Austro-Hungarian Army, though certain military agreements had been reached. Similarly, though an economic rapprochement had . been arranged, it did not prejudice Hungarian oeonomic independence. The agreement required the Chamber's approval. Ho declared that the Emperor Karl's letter had been satisfactorily explained to Germany, and the incident was regarded as closed.

German newspapers assert that Germany will shortly arrange conventions with Bulgaria and Turkey, similar to that with Austria.

Count von Hertling and Herr von Kuhlraann have returned from Headquarters. TJioy refused to receive the Reichstag leaders until after Whitsuntide, despite the leaders' demand for an immediate private interview to discuss the recent agreement between Austria and Germany. Liberal and Socialist newspapers warn the Government not to bind Germany to Austria before the Reichstag is consulted.