GERMAN MOURNING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 2 June 1937, Page 5

GERMAN MOURNING

BOLSHEVISM BLAMED Indignation In Italy London, May 31. The shadow of the Deutschland’s dead fell heavily across the celebrations to commemorate the Battle of Jutland', which Germans regard as i the greatest naval victory in history. A naval detachment proceeding to the Unter Den Linden in Berlin, to place a wreath on the war memorial in memory of the Deutschland's losses mlarched without music. Rear-Ad-miral von Trotha, a Jutland veteran, addressing them, declared: “These seamen have been criminally murdered.” Three days of mourning have been ordered in Germany. All flags will be flown at half-mast, decorated with crepe streamers. Meanwhile German newspapers reiterate the allegation that Bolshevism is to- blame for the bombing. They ask why it is always Fascist vessels, Italian and German, that are attacked. At Rome the bombing of the Deutschland caused intense indignation. Signor Mussolini did not attend- the baptism of the infant son of the Crown Prince, wlfich is interpreted to b e due to a. lengthy telephone conversation with Herr Hitler. It is believed that if Italian vessels are again bombed Signor Mussolini will bombard a Spanish- city. Meanwhile the Italian Government has issued a communique: “Repeated attacks against Italian and German warships having plainly proved a premeditated plan of aggression, Italy has decided to withdraw from the international control scheme, and its members' will be withdrawn from the Non-Intervention Committee until means are adopted to prevent new criminal attacks.”

It is stated that Italy is sending navial reinforcements -to Spain. Semi-official comment emphasises that Signor Mussolini and Herr Hitler will act jointly against the Spanish Government in -the event of further provocation. They have also expressed determination to stand firm in Spain until the end of the war. Therefore the British armistice proposals .are “dead- and buried.”