MOB HYSTERIA IN VIENNA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 4

MOB HYSTERIA IN VIENNA

RELIEF AT BLOODLESS VICTORY OBSERVER'S IMPRESSIONS All the excitement of Herr Hitler's arrival In Vienna and the hysteria that followed the great relief felt by the Viennese when they discovered that they would not be embroiled In a war was seen at dote quarters by Miss Gwladys Byrne, who was interviewed In Christchurch yesterday. Miss Byrne arrived In Vienna the night before Hitler's march into the city, and was in a hotel immediately opposite that one where the Fuhrer spent bis first night Miss Byrne, who was in Vienna on business, awoke on her second day to And the streets lined wjtb thousands of people, and was as much at a loss as the crowds to understand what was happening. At last Herr Hitler arrived in a motor-car, followed by a fleet of cars carrying his generals and staff, and he took up quarters at a hotel immediately opposite Hers. toon he.came to •'balcony to adresa the Viennese., ; > ■■' / ' "Of course I do not know what be said, but the crowds screamed,.'Heil, Hitler!' 'Heil, Hitler!' and they were overcome with hysteria." Miss Byrne attributed this to the immense tension which had been fell for a long time. The Viennese attitude had been "Sum-, mit to anything rather than have another war," and the relief in discovering that the terror had been avoided by such a bloodless revolution had driven the crowds to hysteria. All business had been suspended, the crowds stayed in the streets until 1 s-m., and guards had been posted at all the hotels, so that passports had to be produced for every movement. At last the tension eased, and Miss Byrne left to escape any further trouble. All night long the train was stopping, and people were taken off. Passports were asked' for, but when British ones were produced they were, merely glanced at. '