ROUSED FROM BED

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 225, 23 September 1933, Page 9

ROUSED FROM BED

SOVIET JOURNALISTS.

Leipzig Police Chief's Profuse

Apology.

MUTE DUTCH PRISONER.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12.30 p.m.) LEIPZIG, September 22. Madame Lili Kith, correspondent of the Moscow "Izvestia," and M. Bespalov, correspondent of the Soviet Tass News Agency, were summoned from their respective beds at seven in the morning and taken to police headquarters. They were stripped and searched for weapons and documents. A man in plain clothes aroused M. Bespalov. A policeman at the door levelled his revolver and threatened to shoot if escape were attempted. • The journalists were detained until one o'clock, when Herr Hirsclifeld, secretary to the Russian Embassy, secured their release. The German police chief profusely apologised, saying that a subordinate liad acted without his personal orders. Herr Hirsclifeld says he Is not satisfied and will make a report to the Soviet Ambassador. The fact that Russian journalists are not admitted to tlio trial is arousing bitter comment in the Soviet Press.

On resumption of the trial a disavowal of the much published story that he set fire to the Reichstag was made by Herr Heines, police president of Breslau and formerly a Storm Trooper. He said he was in Gleiwitz on the night of the fire.

The question of whether the accused Dutchman, Van der Lubbe's muteness was feigned or a symptom of insanity, led to the early calling of a specialist, Dr. von Hoesser, who testified that the prisoner was healthy, strong, talkative and a ready wit in prison where he refused food in order to expedite the trial and to save others from further suspense.

POLICE DISAPPROVE.

British Deputation to German

Ambassador,

LADY MARLEY MAY LEAD

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. A meeting in the Kingsway Hall decided to appoint a deputation to convey to the German Ambassador in London tho decision of the unofficial London commission of inquiry into the burning of the Reichstag.

Lady Marley offered to lead the deputation, although the Commissioner of Police has forbidden it.

LONDON INQUIRY.

Torgler's Son Tells of Chain - Marks on Father's Wrists.

A "FLAWLESS ALIBI."

LONDON, September 20,

"He had chain marks on his wrists," said Kurt Torgler, a frank-faced and manly schoolboy, telling the "Reichstag Fire Commission" in London of a visit ho paid his father, Ernst Torgler, in Moabit prison (Berlin). Ernst Torgler is the principal accused in the German trial.

Kurt Torgler, dressed in sweater and soft shirt, detailed how his father, thinking it unsafe to sleep at home after ho learnt of the Reichstag burning, spent the night with a friend, Otto Kuline, secretary of the Reichstag section of the Communist party. Later he was arrested.

"Wo went to police-headquarters," said Kurt. "We couldn't see him for a fortnight. I last saw him in prison in May when he was thin and depressed. He had just been released from his chains."

The doors were locked during the evidence of the above-mentioned Otto Kuline. He said that five police arrested him at his flat the morning after the fire. Torgler was arrested after submitting himself to examination by the head of the secret service, although he provided a flawless alibi.

The Nazis, who probably started the fire, did not intend to burn the Reichstag. Witness proved liis alibi and was released after several weeks' imprisonment. Elena Dimitrova, the sister of one of the Bulgarian prisoners, vividly recounted how her brother was forced to leave Bulgaria. His wife went mad on learning of the present charge against him and later died. He was in Munich when the Reichstag was burnt. Another brother was killed in prison.

EVENTS IN AUSTRIA.

MONARCHISTS VERY HAPPY,

LONDON, September 22

Dispatches from Vienna state that Dr. Dollfuss' new Ministers already foreshadow the early creation of an experimental guild council, similar to the Fascist Grand Council in Italy, to explore the best basis for the introduction of a guild legislative system.

The Monarchists are openly liappy over the turn of events. They assert that five of the Ministers are overt protagonists of the Hapsburg cause and the two others in secret are Monarchists.

BEGGARS BANNED

BERLIN STREET NUISANCE

BERLIN, September 20,

Concerted action against begging on public streets began recently throughout the whole of Germany. Detachments of police, Brown Shirt troopers, and representatives of charitable organisations co-operated in dealing with the evil.

At the instigation of the Government the Press informed the public of the object of the campaign and urged people not to hand money to unknown persons who "o systematically from door to door, or 'who cumber public thoroughfares, begging for help.