STEEL HELMETS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1932, Page 7

STEEL HELMETS

BIG RALLY IN GERMANY.

PARADE OF WAR VETERANS,

LIONDON, May 23. Ten thousand picked Stalhelms (Steel Helmets), recruited from all over Germany, attended a rally at Magdeburg, in which the ex-Crown Prince and the Kaiser’s second eon, Prince Eitel Friedrich, took part. A myriad of flickering flights lit the vast cathedral square as the Stalilhehhs marched. War veterans clad in old Prussian uniforms paraded. Major Wagner, one of the highest officials, made a speech defining the aims of the organisation. He said the Stahlhelms were fostering the military spirit, because they felt that Germany was becoming ■ apathetic. Soldiers should take a hand in the Government, to see Germany again re spected. The Stalhelms were not striving for increased armaments, but for a recovery of Germany’s sovereignty in military matters. It was intolerable that these should be dictated by the French General Staff,

The speech was interesting, because it accorded with well-informed reports from Geneva, that the delegates to the Disarmament Conference would be given the'Tight to increase her armed forces, provided she did not do- so for 12 years. * In the meantime the short-service army would supersede the present 12vear recruitment, and German armament would be increased.