GERMAN ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1932, Page 5

GERMAN ELECTIONS

PRESIDENT’S DOUBT MAY RETIRE FROM CONTEST. (United Press Association— 4 ,y Electrio Teit graph —Copyright.; BERLIN, March 7. The Cologne Gazette loreensts that Hinueiiburg will get sixteen million votes, Hitler 12,200,000, Thaelmann 4,.-u.,,G.')0, Du ester berg 1,900,000; dies a second ballot will he necessary as it is expected that 35,000,000 will vote, so that President Hiudenburg neecis 17)000,000. in the second ballot there will probably he a straight light with Hitler. Thaelmann will certainly gi\e the Fieldmar,shall a substantial majority and there is a possibility that Uuesterberg will retire from the second ballot to allow the Hohenzollern Prince to he nominated, vie purpose being to force President Hindenburg to withdraw.

The ex-Crown Prince and three other of th e Hohenzollerns, attended the march of the Steel Helmets, arranged by the Nationalists. President Hindenburg has written to a friend stating that if he is' not fleeted in the first ballot he will probably withdraw, as lie feels diint the majority of Gormans are not behind him.

PARTISAN SPEECHES. EXCITEMENT OF MASSES. BERLIN, March 7. Numerous clashes with the Nazis and Communists, marked last Sunday’s Presidential election campaign. The most serious occurred early in the morning, when a hundred Communists attacked a small group, firing point blank and killing one and wounding four other Nazis. There were many other street fights the Communists freely using firearms, even against the polite. Scoies were slightly injured. Ninety of the Communists and thirty Nazis were 'arrested. Prince August Wilhelm whom tlie speakers referred to as the Kaiser’s son, discarded - his semi-uniform jacket decorated with the Iron Cross, and vigorously addressed five thousand Nazis championing Herr Hitler. Five thousand listened in the adjacent halls. The Prince spoke fluently for forty minutes, and was thunderously cheered when he declared, amidst applause and laughter, that the present Government was no better than the Imperial Government had been. Thirty thousand Socialists held a mass meeting at Potsdam, carrying posters inscribed, “Down with Hitler, Hindenburg is our man.”

The Socialists’ leader, Weis, issued a manifesto urging Republicans to vote for Hindenhurg and avoid civil war.

COMIC OPERA. BERLIN, March 7 The Saxon Government refused to release Adolph Winter from gaol in order to conduct his otyn campaign as an Independent candidate for tho German Presidency.