ENEMY TROUBLES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1329, 17 May 1918, Page 5 (Supplement)

ENEMY TROUBLES.

GERMAN ELECTORAL REFORM.

(A. & N.Z. & Router) AMSTERDAM, May 13.! The Prussian Lower House read a third time the Electoral Reform Bill by 230 votes to 185, but with the equal suffrage clause deleted. The Progressive Poles and Social Democrats opposed the emasculated Bill. The Minister declared that the Government had employed all constitutional means to carry equal suf-j frage, and failing the acceptance! thereof within a definite period the House would be dissolved. TERRIFYING STATISTICS. (A. & N.Z. & Router) ROME, May 15. | The gravity of the internal conditions in Austria is illustrated by a t meetng representative of all classes; at Trieste demanding succour. The notice calling the gathering I stated: "Trieste is without reservesj or resources. We refuse to die of starvation. Even people who were; rich before the war now live by begging or public charity. Malnutrition and hunger prevent the workers! from doing their daily task. The statistics of sick and (lead are terrifying." GREAT DISTRESS. (A. & N.Z. & Renter I LONDON, May 15. j An Agram (Austria) newspaper' draws a terrible picture of the dis-j tress in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, the journal states, is worse; even than that of Galicia and Buko-j wina. Whole districts have been! devastated and depopulated. Numerous inhabitants who departed died in internment camps, and those remaining were massacred by the Austrian soldiery or died of starvation. Deaths exceeded births bv 5000 in 1915 and by 23,711 in ISHfi, the mortality not including those! who fell on the battlefield. The whole of the live stock was destroyed and consumed by the army, and it is impossible to cultivate owing to the absence of oxen. NO FORMAL TREATY. (A. & N.Z.I LONDON, May 15. A Budapest telegram states that no formal treaty has thus far been drawn up between the Central i Powers, and no alliance is contemplated for defence against any pos-; sible coalition of Powers, but it is' announced that there is no intention of frustrating the establishment ofj a universal League of Nations with' which a new alliance can be con-1 nected. BAVARIA SUSPICIOUS. (A. & N.Z.I BERNE, May 15. The Munich "Neueste Nachrichten," referring to the Bavarian' King's visit to German Headquarters I for participation in the Austro-' German negotiations, states that the hour is grave, and Bavaria cannot' allow Prussia to be the sole arbiter, of Germany's destinies. The King of Saxony is proceeding to Headquar-] ters for a similar purpose. Despite the Kaiser's announcement, the " Nachrichten's " Vienna correspondent states that the Emperors renewed their alliance for 25 years, and also arranged for closer military union. German newspapers state that the Emperors' Conference appointed Kings of Lithuania, Courland, Esthonia, and Poland. DOMINION GIFTS. PRESENTED TO EXETER. ("The Times"! LONDON, May Ifi. Brigadier-General McCay, Briga-dier-General Hart, and Captain Oatcs, on behalf of their Governments, presented Australian, New Zealand, and South African flags to Exeter as an expression of gratitude for the hospitality extended to oversea troops. The flags have been deposited in the Guildhall, with commemorative tablets. The Mayor, Sir James Owen, said! that the ancient city had never re-j ceived gifts of greater significance, emblematic of the unity of the nations of the Empire. IN AFRICA. REPUBLICAN PROPAGANDA. (Reutcr) CAPE TOWN, May 15. j General Botha, in a speech at the: South African Congress, warmly! condemned the Nationalist Republi-j can propaganda as nothing but an attempt to gain votes. General Hert- 1 zog and his friends had been playing with fire, but General Hertzog had 1 now called a halt. General Botha emphasised that after the Boer War] they nearly despaired in their deep! sorrow and mourning, but in every-; tiling they could see God's hand. A! great, contented South Africa, had, been established. It was nonsense to ; talk about an "oppressed nation."! There must be an end to all talk ; about raising commandoes. They ;could not allow that kind of thing to i go on. <