FIRE IN REICH

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1933, Page 6

FIRE IN REICH

D ECR.EE TQ CO MOAT, RED,MENACE

FIRE ORIGIN INQUIRIES.

(United 'Press- Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received this day at 11 a.m

BERLIN, February 28.

'■ The, Cabinet has decided on a virtual martial layr . under police regime. Cabinet. has requested von liindeuburg to sign an. emergency decree for the “protection of the German people against the. Communist danger,’’ enabling extensive interference with personal liberty. " It has been decided to hold elections in any circumstances.

.Pacifists, lawyers and scientists are among the 130 arrested in Berlin in connection with the fire. One, hundred and forty were arrested at Hanover. Jt Many pointed questions liave been asked, regarding tlie origin of the fire— Why ’ Luebbe used liis own shirt to start the- blaze when the building was filled with inflammable material P How liebrought enough petrol to start a score of fires without being disturbeu and detected? Jt is peculiar that the firemen concentrated on saving the restaurant unaware that the windowless Reichstag, was blazing fiercely. '

BO LSH EVI K PLOT Dl SC LOSE D, ’

REVOLUTION AND CIVIL WAR..,

(Received this day -at 11..45- a.m.) h . BERLIN, February 28.

Among the eighty overnight arrests, 38 were Communist leaders. All Socialist. and Communist election posters have been removed from hoardings. Herr Goering’s communique states that jthe raid on Ldebknecht House revealed plans of a Bolshevik plot, in-cluding-the firing of the Reichstag which was to he the signal for re-volution-and civil war.

DRASTIC DECREES ADOPTED

BERLIN, February 2?,

The Cabinet has. adopted the draft ■of n drastic decree for increasing the penalties for treason, and kindred, of;fences. .It also lias provided for the death penalty in extreme cases, as of betraying military secrets. Imprisonment is provided for inciting strikes, pi- -nets'of violence against the Government’, a-nd also in the, sending of .false reports abroad. i

LABOUR PAPERS SUPPRESSED.

BERLIN, February 27

The police . on .. Tuesday ■ seized all Communist and Socialist newspapers,- periodicals -and leaflets.,. They -also occupy the offices of the" paper “Vorwaerts:” The further'appearance cf all such papers is forbid-; den.

ANOTHER. DR A STIC DECREE.

DEATH PENALTY CONDITIONS,

(Received 'March 1 at 1.J30 p.m.) BERLIN, February 23. ■ Hiindenburg lias signed' a decree placing •■Germany under an absolutedictatorship. It will be supported by the police regime because Cabinet lias rejected military control in order to keej) the army out of politics. The decree resciuda personal liberty and freedom of speech in the press, holding meetings, forming associations, ‘ privacy of letters, telegrams and telephone?, and provides the . death penalty, for attempts on the lives of Ministers;, severe breach of the peace, treason,;-, poisoning, arson, and damaging railways. • Prussian authorities declare that they unearthed 'a vast Communist conspiracy ito overthrow .the regime. ■ Heir Goering the .Reichstag hre as the most monstrous act of Bolshevik terrorism in Germany. Documents discovered in Leibknqcht house are alleged ‘to include instructions for poisoning food'.and water, the marching of women and';, children, especially , pa.? •iidemen's families’'.a* .screens before terror groups during disorders, afeo the hring of public buildings; r The enth|( 'Prussian police are standing to - untiF after the elections,’ assisted by- sixtythousand armed 'Storm Troops .and. Styhlhelms. . .Th e , arrested include Ludwig 'Renn, the' .novelist, and lErnest- Tbalmann, >Hind do burg’s Communist and President opponent. . Liiebbe '.was expelled from the Dutch Comnjunis.!; ..party in .1930 as an . agent of provocateur. V. He. was often imprison, ed for -.agitation and sabotage, and he. domes -the authorities'. assertion_ that others .helped, him in ' the incendiarism; . .It will, take a year to --renovate the Reichstag, n.nd. the next • Parliament must, meet elsewhere, ... ;’.iA press dhief declares that .Com* jmmnst and Socialist . newspapers anil jjijßver appear again, and warns .foreign journal i'? , ts>„to • -refrain*? from - reiving oil malignant sources for information. -