ALLEGED SHOOTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 2

ALLEGED SHOOTING

UNITY MITFORD’S FATE PRINCE ORLOFF’S STORY ,DESPAIR over war LONDON. Nov. 7. The statement that the ilon. Unity Mitford shot herself .with a revolver in her Munich flat the day war was declared was made to the Sunday Dispatch representative in Belgrade by Prince Nicholas Orloff, Berlin radio station’s English-speaking announcer until the outbreak of war. He left Germany a few days ago, and went to Belgrade from Vienna. “Unity Mitford was taken to a Munich hospital, where Hitler —‘Mein Fuehrer,’ as she used to call him—sent her flowers,” said Prince Orloff. “When I last heard of her, the doctors had little hope of saving her life. I ■believe she is dead.

“.She was in despair over the outbreak of-war 'between Britain and Germany, and especially over the signing of the Soviet-German pact of friendship. At one stroke all her ideals and hopes, centred in Hitler, had been Shattered. “I do not believe the stories oif a stormy meeting with Hitler. She never saw Hitler in Munich during the fateful days at the end of August and beginning of September. At the time she was in Munich, Hitler was in Berlin.

“I learned the true story of Unity Mitford’s tragedy from somebody in close touch with Hitler’s personal staff. “When she was found shot, Hitler was immediately told by telephone, my informant added. Unity -Mitford was taken to hospital unconscious, and one of the Fuehrer's aides-de-camp was in constant touch with the hospital doctors. “Hitler was greatly upset, and ordered a great bouquet of flowers to be sent to the hospital. “A week later Miss Mitford was still alive, although the doctors held very little hope,”