ESCAPE EROM PURGE?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1941, Page 5

ESCAPE EROM PURGE?

SPECULATION IN U.S.A. 1 ANTICIPATION OF TERRIFIC I EFFECT. BELATED NAZI ADMISSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 12. Hess’s arrival in Scotland caused a sensation in America, New York reports. The newspapers carry heavy two-inch headlines. The "New York Times” in an editorial declares: "This is the most fantastic story in all history. Hess was sane enough to pilot the plane, and his escapade seems an escape from a. purge or an attempt to represent a reactionary group within the Nazi Party. The escapade must have a terrific effect in Germany, particularly on Hitler.” The "Herald-Tribune” says: "The astonishing episode fits into the pattern of the nightmare of fantasy, unbelievable melodrama and stage horrors with which Hitler has engulfed the world. We assume that Hess must be mad.” The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” describing the news as a bombshell to the capital, says it is believed to be a heavy blow to the Nazi prestige and might indicate that Hess no longer believes that Germany can win. The German radio this afternoon admitted for the first time that the Deputy Fuehrer had landed in Scotland. They gave the explanation that Hess thought he could come to terms with Britain.

it is thought that Hess’s dramatic flight was a sequel to a disagreement with other Nazi leaders.

. It has now been disclosed that Hess escaped to this country in defiance of the Nazi authorities. He brought no message.

The Foreign Office official who was sent to Glasgow to identify Hess was Mr Ivan Kirkpatrick, who was closely acquainted with him. He was for five years up to 1938 attached to Sir Nevile Henderson’s staff when the latter was British Ambassador in Berlin. LAUGHABLE FLIGHT AT TIME OF GERMAN VICTORIES LATEST NAZI VERSION. ATTEMPT TO RIDICULE HESS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) NEW YORK. May 13. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press of America says that an authorised Nazi spokesman’s version indicates that the Germans are doing their utmost to discredit Hess, discounting as laughable his flight as one of defeatism, because it was taken at a time of great German victories. The Nazis claim that if Hess had been normal he would have gone to Sweden or some more accessible spot. The spokesman added that Marshal Goering was made Hitler’s first heir because Hess generally was of a retiring nature and in a certain sense a singular man. Hess’s family is as surprised as anyone else, the spokesman said, and additional communiques could be expected because the Hess matter was not closed. The Nazis refuse to disclose the wording of the Hess letter.