REFUSED TO MEET HITLER

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 10

REFUSED TO MEET HITLER

Former Air Pilot Now Ship’s Pantryboy NAZI INFLUENCES IN SOUTH AFRICA A few weeks ago a pilot in the South African Air Force, today a pantry-buy in lite Dominion Monarch. Squadron Leader C. Massey, .Johannesburg, claims to be one of Hie few men who have declined an interview will, Herr Hitler since he became dictator. A blond, lanky young man in a white tunic, found at work in the loungeAleek pantry of iLe liner when she arrived at Wellington on Saturday, he said that he bad shipped lit his present occupation in order to see the world. He was by birth a South African. After being educated at the Witwntersrand University, bo entered the South African Air Force more than six years ago. I.ast year, with a number of oilier pilots, he was scut three times to Europe to tly out a number of German bombers purchased for the African Air Force, lie said. Most of his companions were Africanders, of Dutch de-ieiii. and witli strong Nazi prejudices. Ju Germany they were given a great reception, and even aceot'ded the honour of an interview with Hie Fuehrer biniself. This. however, lie and another pilot refused, both being opposed to the principles of the Nazi regime. No Time for the Nazis. “I’ve got no time for Hiller or his Nazis,” declared Mr. Massey. "I had no wish to meet him. Apart from the Hying experience, 1 wasn’t a bit interested in taking rhe’ German planes to South Africa.” He said that the Boer population of South Africa was still preponderantly anti-Britisli, and throughout the Union it was extremely difficult for a Briton to prosper. The Boers would do nothing for any Briton, and would as far its possible oppose him in every way. commercially or otherwise. They would not. even honour the British flag or the British National Anthem.

Among them German Nazi agents were active at .present. There was a strong Nazi organization throughout Hie Union. They held meetings openly, and wore the Nazi uniform. He had himself been present at a Nazi meeting attended by 16,000 uniformed brown-shirts. This was Hie significance of recent cabled reports that transport and other public .services were at present being guarded by the military. Rhodesia’s Intense Loyalty. On the other hand, said Mr. Massey, Rliodesitr was entirely British, and intensely loyal. At the lime of the European crisis last year, almost every male person of reasonable age in the whole of Rhodesia enlisted, many telegraphing in their offer to serve from distant up-country post offices. Rhodesia was prepared to fight the rest of Africa; if need be, with Hie assistance of Kenya and the oilier wholly British portions of East Africa. The Rhodesian Air Force was tremendously developed ; it had sufficient planes to protect a population of 10 million, instead of the small number of inhabitants actually there. Itwa.s the strongest air force in Africa and would have no difficulty in looking after the South African force in the event, of trouble.

“I do not think any British person has the least doubt Hint there wit] be trouble in the Union before very long,” he said. “1 think there will be another rebellion there, sooner than many people imagine.” He sirid that lie was anxious to take tip commercial flying, and hoped it would be possible to find a billet in New, Zealand or. Australia, where be understood there were considerable developments in air transport taking place. IJe had spent 64 years (lying in the Union Air Force, and bad resigned from it in order losee something of other parts of the world.