“BAD AS THE WORST"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1941, Page 5

“BAD AS THE WORST"

GERMAN=LANGUAGE PAPER ON HESS DISTINGUISHED BY RUTHLESS FANATICISM. WARNING AGAINST EASY SENTIMENTALITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright i LONDON. May 13.

“Die Zeitung,” the German-language newspaper published in London by anti-Nazi refugees, says in a leading article: "We must earnestly warn against the easy sentimentality of some /Britishers who tend to convey an impression that Hess is 'not so bad.’ Do not make any mistake: he is as bad as the worst of them. His hands are stained with the blood of thousands of innocent people. His fanaticism and ruthlessness match that of Himmler and Streicher, if anything, and by it he has distinguished himself among his fellow criminals. “It is his impudence which has always made him specially suited tc deny atrocities with an air of offended honesty. He did this from the tortures in the concentration camps to the war preparations against Czechoslovakia. ■ “Germany has suffered a devastating defeat on the moral and political bat-, tiefield which may be decisive if the propaganda strategists know how to use it.” Mr Churchill, according to “Die Zeitung" has summed up the. situation resulting from Hess's flight in the eminently Churchillian phrase: "The maggot is in the apple." The newspaper summarises the possible reasons for the flight. "He may," it says, "have got on one of Himmler’s black lists and have had an inkling of it. He may have had serious political differences with his colleagues. “INSIDE INFORMATION.” "He may, sooner than the less initiated. have obtained inside information about the real situation in Germany and thereupon acted as many of the lesser criminals will act when the zero hour is approached—try to get himself out of trouble and play the penitent sinner.

“Finally, this 'most loyal of the, loyal' (as he was styled till yesterday) has perhaps been sent only to simulate treason and really make a last attempt at creating confusion among the onetime friends of the Nazis in England. If this is the case, one may rest assured that it will be foiled by the vigilance of the British Government.” The newspaper adds: "Hess has — leaving Roehm aside —been Hitler’s first and closest associate. He was the joint founder of the Storm Troops, the joint author of 'Mein Kampf,’ and one of those mainly responsible for the slaughter of June 30, f 934. When this man plays the unoffending husband and father nobody should become his dupe. This flight, is a ground for grim satisfaction, and not for soft-hearted pardon.” Otto Strasser, leader of the antiHitler “Black Front." who is now in Canada, said that the flight shows the jealousy between the German army chiefs and the Nazi Party. If Goering came to power, he stated. Hess’s life as leader of the Nazi Party would not be worth a moment’s purchase. It is officially stated today that Hess is busy reading and working in the military hospital. He is making good progress to recovery from his injury and is in excellent spirits. He has spoken freely to Mr Kirkpatrick, of the Foreign Office. A few more facts which are now known about his arrival suggest that he must have had help inside Germany from people who knew of his intentions. MATTER NOT CLOSED. A Berlin statement says that Goering was made Hitler’s first heir because Hess is generally of a retiring nature and in a certain sense is a singular man. The Hess family was as surprised as anyone else. The spokesman said that additional communiques could be expected, because the Hess matter was not closed. The Nazis refuse to disclose the wording of the letters which Hess is said to have left before taking his departure.

The "Daily Mail" says the Nazis have threatened to Frau Hess that she and her child will be treated “according to the use which the British may make of Hess for propaganda purposes." It is officially denied in Berlin that Frau Hoss has arrived at Ankara. Turkey.

TREMENDOUS ASSET

OPINION OF MR WARD PRICE

LONDON, May 14

Mr Ward Price, writing in the "Daily Mail." says: "In Hess we have gained a tremendous asset. Let us make the maximum use of it. Imagination and swift action are needed to exploit the undreamed-of situation.

“Hess knows the closest secrets of the Nazi war plans and Hitler's covert designs against Stalin, Franco and Mussolini. How can Germany be sure that all this vital information will not be henceforth in our hands? So let us tell them that we possess it. Let us impress upon them daily that their strategic schemes and covert plots are now an open book to us all. “The work Goebbels has done for the Nazi cause was cancelled when Hess’s parachute floated down near Glasgow.” VERY LARGE RAT LONDON. May 14. A Stockholm newspaper comments: “Hess may be the first rat to leave, but at least it is a very largo rat.” KEEN INTEREST IN SPAIN LONDON. May 14. The news of Hess's flight is given great prominence in the newspapers in Spain. Both the British and German accounts are printed in full. INSANITY THEORY MODIFIED BY NAZIS. LONDON. May 14. 'The British United Press's Berlin correspondent says the official spokesman qualified earlier communiques with an admission that Hess could not be considered a hundred per cent insane. He was an able man except when pain from wounds received in the lasi, war induced illusions. This reply was given to journalists ,• who questioned the insanity theory. I