MAILED FIST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 7

MAILED FIST.

PERFERVID PATRIOTS.

Annual Parade of German

Militarists.

POLICE ON GUARD

usy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.!

(Received 12 noon.)

BERLIN, May 8.

For the first time in the history of the German Republic the capital was to-day the scene of the annual parade of the perfervid patriots known as the "Steel Helmets."

Sixty special trains, crowded with 80,000 members;of the organisation, converged on Berlin yesterday from every part of Germany. The "Steel Helmets" were dressed in field-grey uniforms.

.For weeks past a verbose Press vendetta has been maintained. Nevertheless, the people are adopting an attitude of philosophic calm. All police leave has been cancelled, and thousands of extra policemen have been drafted into the citv.

The Communists have been showerin<* curses on President Hindenburg and the police for forbidding a counter demonstration. The President is an honorary member of the "Steel Helmets," and has pronounced a blessing on the organisation, though otherwise he has withheld his official sanction from them.

Field-grey uniforms and the goose step returned to Berlin during the weekend, when 80,000 ex-service men carrying hundreds of war standards embossed with a steel helmet, marched past the grandstands of the stadium.

It was the first big military ceremonial since the war.

The high command of the former army galloped ahead of the columns, which swung along the field goose-stepping, pausing with lowered flags in front of the special box in which the ex-Kaiser's two sons, August and Oscar, and several wartime generals and admirals stood at the salute.

After the manoeuvres the Princes and generals reviewed the troops to the accompaniment of martial music, and the singing of "DeutsChland über Alles," the majority of the 50,000 onlookers joining in.

A similar parade took place in the Lustogarten, adjoining the ex-Kaiser's palace. There were several disturbances during the parades, and 200 arrests were made.

Hnarmed Militia. The "Steel Helmets" virtually took possession of Berlin. The extraordinary vigilance of the police prevented many riots.

"A great unarmed militia," is the only fitting name for the formidable array of medalled war veterans and warlike recruits.

Though they did not display the precision of movement and smartness of dress and bearing which characterised pre-war ceremonials it is unmistakable that military in equipment, organisation and discipline the "Steel Helmets" are the standard bearers in demilitarised Germany.

It has the old military tradition, the goose-step, the war standards of martial music as its stock-in-trade, while the memories of battle, the defiance of defeat, and the belief in the future glory of Germany are its life and soul. The 100,000 spectators were obviously sympathetic.

After sharp Words of command and well executed manoeuvres, the leader from the steps of the National Gallery addressed the entire assemblv.

Militant Speech. His speech, which was carried round the square by loud speakers, said the "Steel Helmets" did not recognise the Treaty of Versailles, or later treaties and agreements. They demanded the restoration of conscription and the revocation of the admission of war guilt, a declaration which was extracted from Germany by force. Above all they demanded the restoration of the black, white and red flag under which Germany had carried her heroic struggle against the world.

The latter statement was received with tremendous applause.

Two Minutes' silence was observed in memory of the dead, then a hymn was sung, then four times repeated "Deutschland über Alles."

By the Treaty of Versailles the strength of the German army is limited to 100,000 men, who must be voluntarily recruited. Although by the terms of the treaty military associations of civilians and reservists are forbidden, there sere reported to be many such organisations in Germany. The "Daily Mail" Year Book states that very large bodies of irregular forces have| been raised and still exist, with or without the connivance of the Government, and despite the representations of the Allies. These forces have rifles, machine guns, and trench mortars, aeroplanes and artillery. Tn July, 1926. Sir Austen Chamberlain expressed the British Government's dissatisfaction at the state of affairs. The "Steel Helmets" is one of the most powerful of the, supposedly, non-official militarist organisations. *