GREAT COUP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 281, 22 July 1932, Page 5

GREAT COUP

(Press Assn.

THE COUNTRY STIRRED.

. — By Telegraph — Copyright)

BERLIN, Thursday. The Dictatorship is the greatest coup since the Republic was declared in 1919, and is regarded as a deathblow to the Democratic regime. Coupled with tho declaration of a mil'tary state of emergency in Berlin and B'-andenburg events in Prussia, have stirred the country. Herr von Papen is the nominal dictator of Prussia. The docree places in the Reich's hands the bulk of the legal armed forces and deposes the Minister of the Interior (Herr Severing), who recently declared that von Papen's Ministry must be driven from office. Herr von Papen summoned him this morning and announced the dictatorship. Herr Severing returned to his office to find 100 soldiers in charge with orders to use force if he declined to vacate the position. Infantry and machine-guns are guarding the German Chancellery nearby. It is believed that an acute struggle for supremacy will ensue and the troops will occupy the State of Prussia. The Ministry President (Herr Braun), VicePresident and police have resigned. General Schleicber has been appointed ruler of Berlin and Brandenburg with summary powers. He may order house to house searches and confiscations, forbid any kind of demonstration, and establish extraordinary courts. He is also empowered to impose the death penalty for armed resistance to military or police, or for treason. General Schleicher's first act was the dismissal of the, acting Ministers.