ABOUT THE ENEMY

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16217, 21 May 1918, Page 7

ABOUT THE ENEMY

(By Cable.—Press Association.- -opyrijjht.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

BUDAPEST, May 18. An official report states:— : "The German-Austro-Hungarian Military Convention provides for the unification of the command of the two armies in troops, reserves, and armaments."

(Renter's Telegrams.)

AMSTERDAM, May 19. Count von Hertling, Imperial Chancellor, interviewed by the Berlin correspondent of the newspaper "Azest," said he rejoiced at the German-Hun-garian comradeship in arms, which obtaned a hotter protection of Hungary's frontiers and other guarantees against Roumanian attack. Count von Hertling dwelt on the benoficial effects of tho now Austro-German alliance, which was not aggressivo, but was designed to secure a place in the sun. He added smilingly: "If the world ever united in an international peace league, Germany would unhesitatingly join. Unfortunately, the present conditions {jive tho smallest hope thereof. Our desire is to win and preserve peace. We are now fighting for our existence and peace which we long "for. I am optimistic enough to believe that we will have peace this year, although tho Entente statesmen still talk of crushing the Central Powers."

Von Hertling added that it miglii have been thought that the attacks on Mr Lloyd Goorgo, which, after all, indicated the strengthening of the peace idea, would have created a better basis for peace, but this was not the case. Nevertheless, ho was firmly confident that further events on the West front would bring nearer the end of the war. (Boater's Telegrams.) (Received May 20th, 8.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, May 19. The Bavarian Agrarian leader. Doctor Heim, addressing the Farmers' Leaguo at Munich, said that cattle and other stock had been decimated and tho soil exhausted. It would be self-decep-tion to believe that the pre-war conditions would ever return. The rebuilding would take decades. Germany would be unable to export goods which she needed at home. Her salvation lay between freetrade and compulsory State control.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received May 21st, 1 a.m.)

NEW YORK, May 19. Washington officials point out that the Germans are using influence through Turkey in order to strengthen the Teutonic power with the Mohammedans.