WITH THE ENEMY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 7

WITH THE ENEMY.

GERMANY AT BAY. TH EM EXDOU? PREPARATIONS. ißy C a o!e. —Pr«Hs Association.—Copyright.') .Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.} (Received November l(3ih, 5.55 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 1"). The newtspaper "Tid" state s that all German citizens will be for army or factory work in December. The preparations to place a barrier before the Entente's assault will astonish Europe. An air fleet is being

bnii:, which will lead to 'undreamed-of aerial battles. There i* a lack of soldiers and of war material at the present moment, but these conditions will soon cease. It is expected that, tlie R-eichstag will extond the operation of the Bill to ■women. Eight thousand Russian prisoners at Liege have been compelled to work in the coal mines ><> replacing deported Belgians. CONCESSION TO GIRLS. November 16t!i. • p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November The Saxon Government has decided that girls engaged to .-oldiers killed in action shall be allowed to use the title (of "frau" if it were proved that they had an earnest intent; to marry the soldier. Special Government permission is required before the girl assumes the name of her fiance. AN UNFAIR REPRISAL. (Received November ICth. 7.2-3 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 15Ay a reprisal for the forced sale of German property in Nigeria, the German Government is selling the palace of Sir Francis Oppenheimer, the former Consul-General at Frankfurt, which is valued at 000. OCX} marks (about £100,000). ABUSING BELGIUM.

PROTEST FROM AMERICA. (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) WASHINGTON, November 14. Mr Lansing lias directed the American Embassy at Berlin to unofficially interview Dr. von Bothmann-Hollwivi and endeavour to stop the deportations of Belgians, pointing out that the action \was producing an unfavourable impression on neutral opinion in the United States, where many interpret it as an attempt to release German workers for the firing-line. It is semiofficially stoted that the Belgian deportations ure regarded as a violation of Germany's assurances made to Mr Gerard, when women and children were deported from Lille. APPROACH OF PEACE. AN HUNGARIAN UTTERANCE. BUDAPEST, November 14. Count Apponyi, interviewed by a Berlin Press correspondent, paid:—''We are getting near peace. lam sure it is on the way. We do not mean that it will come next week or month, but the foundations are being laid. Viscount Grey's and Dr. von Bethmrtnn-llollwog's speeches show that the two chief belligerents are getting closer- Although still wide apart, they are approaching common ground, and why not? This common ground is the desire of all nations to have an international -agreement which will ensure the world's peace in the future. If such a guarantee can be arranged I do not think that the horrible bloodshed will have been in vain." The correspondent asked, "Does England want peace?" Count Apponyi replied:—"There are neaco parties in all countries- T admit that there is a strong war party in England and France.'' The correspondent:—"'Can President Wilson do something now to bring the belligerents together?" Count Apponyi: "America, as the greatest neutral, must play an important part in international peace, but I do not think that the psychological moment lias yet arrived. Roumania must first he punished for her treason." THE NATION TN , ARMS. ORGANISATION OF CIVILIANS. AMSTERDAM, November 10. The German newspapers are full of the civilian mobilisation scheme, and paint highly-coloured pictures of n new Germany controlled from Herr Groner's office, whence the activity of all industry and every utilisable citizen will be directed. •The Germans are being persuaded that their supreme organising genius will turn the scale of victory, and intend to show the world how a great Empire can be run as a business directed to the single end of winning the war. The newspapers, with a view to stimulating tho nation, recall Kitchener's saving: "For England the war will, only begin in 1916." Germany underestimated England, and must convert the German Empire into a colossal munitions factory. Some doubt whether the compulsion will apnl.v to women. It is understood that tho food mobilisation will allot dietary according to the importance of war work.