HITLER EN ROUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1939, Page 7

HITLER EN ROUTE

PROCEEDING TO MEMEL

ENTRY OF GERMAN TROOPS. LITHUANIANS ALLOWED TIME TO WITHDRAW. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) BERLIN. March 22. Herr Hitler left for Swinemunde at 3.25 p.m., where he, will board the battleship Deutschland, arriving at Memel at 9 a.m. tomorrow. It is understood that German troops will not enter Memel before Thursday, in order to allow the Lithuanians to withdraw.

QUIETNESS URGED PROCLAMATION BY GOVERNOR. TRAINLOADS OF JEWS DEPART. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) MEMEL. March 22. Storm troopers have occupied the harbour, official buildings and broadcasting stations. The first German plane flew over Memel. M. Gailius, Lithuanian .Governor of Memel, has issued a proclamation urging the population to preserve strict order and not to disturb friendly relations with Germany, to permit the Lithuanian Government to reach decisions calmly. All 'officials and civil servants are to remain at their posts. Citizens’ property would be protected. However, it is stated that practically the entire population of Memel is in the streets. Train loads of Jews are leaving before the German occupation begins. Dr. Neumann, leader of the Memel Germans, said: "Today will end twenty years’ abject humiliation. The Treaty of Versailles is now torn up and justice is accomplished.” GERMAN TACTICS THREAT TO BOMB KAUNAS. DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL OF COMMUNIQUE. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. March 22. The "Exchange’s” Warsaw correspondent. revealing German tactics, says 1: night’s Lithuanian communique. describ’ng the German demands as a direct violation of the Memel statute, was withdrawn early this mornning. It is explained that the communique lacked lhe Government’s approval, whereas actually Herr von Ribbentrop demanded its withdrawal as it was an act hostile to Germany and declared, as an alternative, that Kaunas would be bombed. Previously the Lithuanian Foreign Minister. M Urbays had declined to sign a document similar to that obtained from Dr Haclia. beseeching German protection. GERMAN WARSHIPS. REPORTED OFF MEMEL COAST. (Received This Day. 10.37 a.m.) COPENHAGEN. March 22. German cruisers and submarines are of the Memel coast.