ABOUT THE ENEMY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16266, 17 July 1918, Page 7

ABOUT THE ENEMY.

GERMANY'S WAR AIMS. (By Cable.—Preaa Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 16th. 7.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. July 15. "The Kreuz Zeitung," discussing Germany's war aims, says that only weaklings can believe in the possibility of an understanding with England. Germany will have no paper agreements. She will simply require of England, France, Belgium, Portugal, and the cession, as nn indemnity, of such portions of their possessions as she may need for the establishment of her Central African Empire, which she intends to develop into a great military power for the training of coloured auxiliary troops. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 16th, 7.20 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, July 15. Vienna reports state that serious rioting has occurred at Jaroslau (in Austrian (iaiicia). GERMAN FOOD SHORTAGE. AMSTERDAM, July 15. . It is expected tnat a meatless week monthly in Uermany will save iiou,uuo head or cattle, aud increase tna uauy supply of milK by 750,0uU kilos. Ttie limitation is absolutely necessaiy owing to shortage of swine, and tne necessity lor killing cattle, wiiich themselves are undersized, owing to shortage of fodder.

AUSTRIA'S INTERNAL TROUBLES. LONDON, July 15. The Berne correspondent of the "Daily News" says tnat the details of the Piave fighting are leaking out despite the censorship. Excluding the fdigntiy - wounded, there were 200,000 casualties, of which 10,000 were drowned. Thero were also 40*000 deserters, who fled eastward. The economic situation in AustriaHungary is intolerable, the correspondent says. Spasmodic strikes occur daily, and bread is often almost uneatable. The authorities are relying on the harvest to save the situation, but owing to frosts there will be a mediocre yield. The authorities have difficulty in dealing with armed dosertors. There are thousands of well-equipped men in the mountain districts. The police arrested 3000 armed deserters in Budapest. The daily ration in Austria id three ounces of bread, an ounce of meat, a quarter of an ounce of fat, two ounces and a half of potatoes, tnroe-qudrters of an ounce of jam, and a quarter of an ounco of coffee.

The correspondent adds that relations between Germany and Austria aro strained. Th.e Piave disaster exhausted Germany's _ patience, while Austria has been putting on pressure to secure an offer of peace propositions which thero' would .be some chance of the Allies considering.