SABRE RATTLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 113, 16 May 1933, Page 7

SABRE RATTLING.

PACIFISM DENOUNCED. German Outbursts Intensify European Situation. WAR SPIRIT GLORIFIED. (United l>.A. —Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 15. An astonishing outburst of sabre rattling by the German ViceChancellor, Herr von Papon, coupled with an ill-mannered intervention in Austrian politics by Herr Franck, has made the ugly situation in Europe even more full of danger. The keynote of Herr von Papen's oration was a denunciation of the ideal of pacificism and a glorification of the old Prussian ideal of death in battle. "Instead of lashing up our energies to battle for life the pacifists have tried to spread carpets under everyone's feet," he said. .

"Life is to be a smooth street, whereas God ordained that it shall be a steep path. Pacifism' does not understand the old German horror of meeting one's death in bed. "To the pacifist death from a hardening of the arteries seems to appeal more than death on the battlefield. Mothers should wear themselves, out to give life to children. Fathers should fight on the battlefield to secure the future for their sons. "The soldier is the man who remains bellicose in soul and body at the end of his life. Herr Hitler may truly declare: 'I have restored to the German nation the example of the German soldier.' " "We told you so," epitomises the French Press comments on von Papen's Speech. This is coupled with despair that anything will emerge from the Geneva Conference. Some express the opinion that the peace of the world can still be redeemed by a Franco-British rapprochement. The two countries, it is said, are nearer now than at any time since the Versailles Treaty. The German Press scarcely notices Herr von Papen's speech. The "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung," refuting the "English anti-German campaign," declares that war is impossible as nobody would gain by it, least of all Germany, as she would certainly be defeated.

Affront to Austrian Government. Herr Franck's speech in Vienna lashed 14,000 Austrian Nazis into frenzied excitement. It consisted of a scarcely veiled insult to the Austrian Government. Thus he said: "Herr Hitler himself shortly will come to Austria, whetherthe Government likes it or not. I defy it to prevent Herr Hitler visiting his mother's grave in Upper Austria." Herr Franck followed his attack by

an address to journalists in the German Legation. He threatened reprisals by the German Government against Austria for the reception it had given him. In a special edition the "Heimwehr" demands the immediate expulsion of Hen* Franck. The "News-Chronicle" in a leading article compares Herr von Papen's speech to the utterance of, the chief of a savage tribe to his fellow barbarians. It suggests that there are thousands of Germans to whom this bloody-minded nonsense will be as repulsive as to intelligent people. It asks whether the speech reflects Herr Hitler's mind and policy.