HITLER FADES OUT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 April 1939, Page 5

HITLER FADES OUT

EUROPE & U.S.A. PUZZLED

BROADCAST MYSTERIES.

SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS ■ MADE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 2.

Several features of Herr Hitler’s speech are still puzzling Europe. Arrangements were made to broadcast it from every German station, but were cancelled two hours before the speech, without explanation. This left only the shortwave to America. Herr Hitler began speaking hurriedly, his tone being quite different from his usual voice. The shortwave suddenly faded, after two minutes.

Wireless officials in Berlin first explained that it was cut off because of a disturbance along the land line between Wilhelmshaven and Berlin, but later they explained that it was cut off as the result of an official at Wilhelmshaven erroneously qrdering disconnection of the line. Still later it was explained: “The speech was never meant to be relayed but apparently someone put the plug in the wrong hole, whereupon Herr Hitler went on the air instead of making a gramophone record.” Records, however, must have been made because recorded excerpts were broadcast throughout Germany at 7 p.m. In addition to the broadcast mysteries, all cable reports of the speech were delayed. The flashes did not reach London for nearly an hour instead of the usual two or three minutes. Also it was impossible to communicate by telephone with correspondents at Wilhelmshaven, in order to ascertain the trouble. LISTENERS DISAPPOINTED CUTTING OFF OF BROADCAST. COMMENT IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, April 2. American radio listeners were disappointed when Herr Hitler’s address was cut off the air after 42 words had been spoken. No official explanation is forthcoming from Germany, but radio circles here are of the opinion that Herr Hitler ordered the broadcast to be cut off through fear that Germans might hear the shortwave rebroadcasts from the United States, accompanied by the unfavourable comments of American commentators.

The “New York Times,” in a leader, says that the speech was truculent in the usual Hitler manner, but it proposed no immediate action other than a possible denunciation of Germany’s naval treaty with Britain, which would amount merely to an empty gesture, and refrained significantly from any ultimatum to Poland. It is much too soon, says the paper, to say that last week’s crisis is definitely over. Nevertheless, it is apparent that there will at least be a respite, which is the primary goal of British policy.’

The “New York Herald-Tribune” says that the mere halting of one man’s voice set loose a host of world-wide rumours that official explanations have yet to overtake. If the Fuehrer’s ears did not burn as the result of the wishful thinking which circles the globe, they certainly should have. “Rarely,” Continues the paper, “can so much illwill and suspicion have been concentrated on one individual, and the resulting speech, when finally distributed to the excited world, could hardly fail to prove an anti-climax. It was indeed a singularly unimpressive reply to Mr Chamberlain’s announcement. There was hardly a word of specific response. The Hitlerian bluster about the German Navy deserved the smiles it conjured up in England.” NAVAL TREATY MORE DEFINITE ACTION LIKELY. NO SURPRISES IN SPEECH. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, April 2. After further study of Herr Hitler’s speech Whitehall officials declare it contained no surprises, but it is believed that he is planning more definite action in connection with the AngloGerman naval treaty. The “Sunday Express” in an editorial headed “Don’t worry, there will be no War,” says: “A decision to go to war would mean the end of Hitlerism, defeat for Germany, bankruptcy for Europe and crucifixion of mankind. We must expect alarms to continue, but there will be no war. Instead there will be a settlement of Polish differences with Germany by negotiation. Danzig is a German city and should never have been excluded from the Reich.

The “Sunday Graphic”/ Stated that Herr Hitler showed the jitters in a climbdown speech, and adds that the speech was milder than anybody had imagined it would be.

POLISH VIEW. FUTURE EXPANSION ELSEWHERE. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) WARSAW, April 2. Official circles regard the omission of any reference to Poland in Herr Hitler’s speech as proof that Hitler does not include Poland in his plans for future expansion. FEELING IN HUNGARY. HITLER SEEKING TO SERVE. PEACE. (Received This Day. 10.50 a.m.) BUDAPEST. April 2. Herr Hitler’s speech is welcomed by the Press, which stresses the declaration that Germany does not intend aggression against others, but seeks to serve the peace of Europe.