ABOUT THE ENEMY

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17077, 28 January 1916, Page 8

ABOUT THE ENEMY

•THE:-NISH BANQUET.

A JOURNALISTIC " SCOOP."

DESCRIPTION OF THE KAISER

By Telegraph—Pr«*a Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 26.

The "Daily Mail" claims that one of its correspondents has achieved one of the most remarkable journalistic achievements of the war. He twice visited Constantinople. penetrated Asia Minor and was one of the four reporters present at the banquet which King Ferdiuand gave in honour of the Kaiser at Nish. The latter city, the correspondent says, is now a vast arsenal, especially of big guns and their ammunition. All the large houses have been turned into hospitals. One munition train included numerous trucks loaded - with Fokkers. ' The correspondent noted the Kaiser's almost diminutive figure beside the massive figure of the hawk-uosed Ferdinand, who has a curious duck-like waddle. The Kaiser's face is that of a tired, broken man. His hair is white, though his moustache is .suspiciously dark, and there is an absence of the quick. ,nervous wheeling about which was noticeable in 1908. The Kaiser perpetually used a huge red Turkish handkerchief, <rith an embroidered star and crescent. He found it necessary to> assuage his condition by continual coughing, and spent more time coughing than in eating. General von Falkenhayn, who attended the banquet, showed alert movement, and was the personification of, vigour, vivacity and .virility, bearing well the strain of the. tremendous responsibility. He looks younger than his years.

CHOICE EXTRACTS.

KAISER'S CONVERSATION AT NISH. " Times " and Sydney " Sun " Services, (Received January 27, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, January 26. The, German Press publishes choice extracts from the Kaiser's conversation at Nish. He remarked to M. Radbs,lavoff that he was extraordinarily pleased to meet the great man _of whom ho heard so much. The Kaiser said to Prince Cyril: "My boy, you please, me so on being good and brave." Meanwhile stroking-Prince Cyril'* face he said to" the Bulgarian General Todoroff: "It is marvellous what you have ■done to the English and French." A Bulgar general who was present at the War Council is: reported, as saying: "Our enemies' hopes would collapse if they heard the Kaiser and the German generals discussing the certainty of victory in' calm and clear conversations."

VIENNA AMUSED.

FERDINAND'S THANKS TO FRANZ JOSEF. ■ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. VIENNA. January 26. • In thanking the Emperor Franz Josef for the bestowal of a field marshals baton, King Ferdinand telegraphed: "I am well nigh overwhelmed with this unmerited proof of Imperial favour. Mv heart is still attached with childlike fidelity to the saintly person of. your Majesty;" The sycophancy and extravagance of the telegram have caused much mirth in Vienna. The Emperor Franz Josef sent a conspicuously, cold reply.

FOOD RIOTS.

TROUBLE IN GERMANY,

" Times" and Sydney ' Sun" Services, LONDON, January 26.

A French wireless message says:— " There have been numerous violent manifestations in Germany ever the increased cost of food. Cavalry charged rioters in Ludwigshafen,. and several were wounded. Upheavals have occurred iu Munich, where the Luitpold Brewery has gone bankrupt. Eight days' riots tcok place in Chemnitz. Windows were broken and shops pillaged."

" DARDANELLES VICTORY."

ENVER THANKS GERMANS. * LONDON, January 26

Enver Pasha has written a vainglorious letter to the Press, expressing thanks to German officers for their assistance in beating.the Allies off the Dardanelles.