NAZIS NONPLUSSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1941, Page 6

NAZIS NONPLUSSED

DAMAGING SIGNIFICANCE OF HESS’S ACTION EVIDENCE OF INTERNAL STRESS IN THE PARTY HIERARCHY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY. May 13. The observance of silence in Germany about the Hess flight until it could no longer be maintained will readily be understood. The German authorities were obviously placed in a position of acute difficulty by Hess’s action, proclaiming as it does the unpalatable truth that stress and differences exist in

the Nazi hierarchy. As the event is presented to the German public, Hess is now reported to have left behind papers tending to show that he thought he could achieve an understanding with England through personal contacts. On his arrival in hospital he was served out with the usual hospital equipment and late this afternoon it was reported that he was very comfortable. although suffering slight pain in the ankle. An officer has been detailed to attend to the requirements of the patient, who is naturally tired after his remarkable flight.

In conversation with an officer from the Foreign Office who visited him in hqspital, he attributed his tiredness to the fact that latterly he had taken little outdoor exercise and that the strain of the flight had not worn off. The newspapers emphasise that the flight was a remarkable achievement, indicating a high degree of physical and moral courage. Although Hess is an expert airman, it was his first flight in a Messerschmitt 110 and he had never before baled out. Mr Churchill’s assurance in the House of Commons of a further statement in the near future on Hess was given in response to a number of questions.

One member asked Mr Churchill to sec that the Minister of Information (Mr Duff Cooper.) “dealt with the news of the Hess flight with skill and imagination.”

After an outburst of laughter, Mr Churchill replied: "I had an opportunity of being in company with the Minister of Information up to a very late hour last night, but I think this is one of these cases where imagination is somewhat baffled by the facts as they present themselves.” Mr Churchill later said: “I have nothing to add at present to the statement issued. Obviously a further statement will be made in the near future on the flight to this country of this very high and important Nazi leader.” FIRST NAZI BREAK SINCE BLOOD BATH OF 1934. MR DUFF COOPER’S COMMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 13. The arrival of Hess said the Minister of Information (Mr Duff Cooper) today, showed the first break in the Nazi Party since Hitler murdered a huge bloc of his followers on June 30, 1934. “Here is a man.” Mr Duff Cooper added, “who was so close to him (Hitler), a man obviously in possession of his faculties, since he was able to accomplish his flight successfully, a man who, with the advantages he must have been enjoying in Germany—and we all know what the advantages are of a tyrant’s friends—yet prefers to leave that unhappy and miserable country and fly. at tremendous risk to himself, to a land which is still a country of| the free.” i

CHANGE OF HEART HESS SEES GERMANY HEADED FOR DISASTER. ANOTHER STATEMENT BY NAZI PARTY. (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. According to a usually reliable quarter, Hess, in statements, indicated that he has undergone a change of heart and believes that Germany is headed for disaster. He believes that he was misguided and talks like a man with a guilty conscience. He is eager to dissociate himself from Nazi policy in order to escape responsibility for it. The Government, it was emphasised, would not attempt to force Hess to talk. He would be treated as an honourable prisoner of war. It is understood that Hoss has been taken to a qujet spot in the country, whore the tranquillity of his surroundings might put him in a mood to speak more fully. It is revealed that Hess greeted his capturer with the words: ‘T have come to save humanity.” Hess, in his first interviews, talked in generalities, indicating that the question of German full partnership with Russia might be the chief motive for his behaviour. Hess appeared to be affected by an almost religious fervour. The German Radio announced that as far as letters left by Hess had been investigated, it seems that he has a fantastic idea that by personal contact with certain Englishmen ho can readily achieve an Anglo-German understanding. Hess has been a sick man for years and has recently sought relief from magicians, astrologers and similar persons. It remains to be seen, the German Radio adds, how far these people arc responsible for the mental disorder leading Hess to take this step. He knew the Fuehrer's peace proposals better than anyone else and thus obviously thought that by a personal interview he could bring to an end the horrible events which, in his eyes, could only lead to the destruction of England The Nazi Party regrets that this idealist took a fateful step, the consequences of which he is unable to foresee. This incident in nowise changes the conduct of the war, which will be waged until the British are i overthrown or are prepared for peace.

A Berlin message states that the newspapers subordinated the story of the Hess flight and played up successes in German submarine and air warfare against Britain. A Rome report states that the newspapers published Inconspicuous Berlin versions of the Hess flight.