VOTING IN AUSTRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1938, Page 7

VOTING IN AUSTRIA

ON UNION WITH GERMANY

HITLER’S LAST-MINUTE SPEECH MIRACLE GOD HAS WORKED THROUGH HIM VIENNA, April 9. Herr Hitler arrived at Vienna from Linz and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of Austrians. In the evening he delivered an 80minute broadcast, to 500 radio stations in Austria, Germany and abroad. Shivering masses listened at loudspeakers in Berlin, Vienna and other centres. The speech was largely designed to convince critics who might be inclined to vote negative in the plebiscite on the union of Austria and Germany.

Herr Hitler twice referred to the miracle God had worked through him, and added: “I have been working 19 years and I ask critics to be just and recognise all that I have accomplished compared with what your parties have achieved.’ Herr Hitler concluded by addressing Austria: “I do not believe that Dr von Schuschnigg and other pygmies who previously ruled this land will be remembered in a century, but my name will remain as that of a great son of Austria.” Later Herr Hitler left by train for Berlin. Dr Goebbels proclaimed from Berlin the “day of the greater German flags upon which almost all buildings in Austria and Germany blossomed into bunting. Simultaneously the sirens and whistles of factories, railReich,” and ordered the hoisting of way engines and ships blew. All traffic was brought to a standstill for two minutes. Everybody stood still with arms stretched in the salute. Communist pamphlets threatening Herr Hitler’s life were dropped in outlying streets. Police say they attach no importance to the pamphlets, declaring that they are the work of a few ' extreme Austrian Communists. Nevertheless, stricter precautions are being taken for Herr Hitler’s safety than a month ago.

ANVIL & HAMMER, GOERING ON WORLD POLITICS “NO RIGHT WITHOUT MIGHT” BERLIN, April 9. Germany was once on the anvil on which others hammered, but now Germany is the hammer and does the hitting, according to Field-Marshal Goering, speaking at a big election meeting. “Mere paper protests do not avail in the world of politics,” he said. “When the Germany of today makes protests they are backed by the bayonet. Germany knows from experience that there is no right without might.” He added that the world should be grateful that Germany had rid it of the Austrian nightmare. ■ “I considered myself well-informed in Austrian events, but was astounded and shaken by the unspeakable tortures which the country had suffered,” he said. “Not only had men been deprived of work and the means of existence, they had been tortured by the most terrible means of the middle ages, being branded on the ribs with red-hot irons, simply because they wanted to be Germans.” AUSTRIAN REFUGEES AMERICAN PLAN APPROVED WASHINGTON, April 9. Twenty-four nations have sent favourable replies to the suggestion by the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, to facilitate the emigration of Austrian political refugees. Italy was the sole dissenting nation.

CONSUL=GENERAL APPOINTED BY BRITAIN LONDON, April 9. Mr Donald St Clair Gainer has been appointed Consul-General for Austria and will reside in Vienna. Mr Donald St Clair Gainer, C.M.G., 0.8. E., has been Consul-General for Bavaria since 1932. REUNION IN THAMES. GERMANS AND AUSTRIANS LIVING IN BRITAIN. By Telegraph. —Press Association, Copyright. (Recd This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 10. Two thousand Germans and Austrians living in Britain, including nurses from a German hospital in east London, went to Tilbury in order to vote in the plebiscite aboard the steamship Wilhelm Gustloff, on which fifteen hundred men and women were enjoying a cruise from Germany. A chorus of "Heils!” rang out and the band played “Deutschland Über Alles” as the ship came alongside the landing stage, after which there were many reunions of families and friends. A BLEAK MORNING. BERLIN WAKES TO COLD WIND AND SNOW. (Recd This Day, 10 a.m.) BERLIN, April 10. A brass band woke the populace to vote. Queues shivered in a cold wind and showers of snow.