REBELS DEAD.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 7

REBELS DEAD.

ARREST RESISTED. Herr Roehm Refuses Suicide And Is Shot. HITLER'S FRANTIC ACTION". (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) BERLIN, July 1. -- The former Minister of Defence, General von Schleicher, was shot dead yesterday while resisting arrest in his home. Herr Roehm, Chief of Staff of the Storm Troops, and his fellow leader, Herr Ernst, have been imprisoned. - The Chancellor, Herr Hitler, stated: "I have dismissed Herr Roehm from office and expelled him from the party and from the Storm Troops and have appointed Group Leader Lutze Chief of Staff. Storm Troopers who disobey orders will be expelled, also probably arrested and sentenced." Later Herr Roehm.'s entire staff was arrested. ' An official announcement states that Herr Roehm to-day was given the opportunity to take the consequences of his action, namely, he was handed a revolver witli which he was invited to commit suicide, but he refused. He was shot dead. Suicide of Rebel Leaders. General Goering," Premier of Prussia, stated: "Everyone who has resisted us has been shot. In the past few weeks a littlo clique of Storm Troopers. tried to make a second revolution, destroy the State and establish a laughable Government. "Herr Hitler and I are determined to proceed with the utmost severity against attempts from the Right and Left against the State." 1 The police have occupied headquarters of the Storm Troops, also railway stations. Lorry loads of soldiers With rifles slung over their shoulders are rushing through the city to destinations unknown. The police are searching every house in the surrounded west end section of Berlin.

It is reported that several Storm Troop leaders committed suicide in preference to facing arrest. The raid on the headquarters of the organisation occurred within a quarter of an hour of the troops commencing their month's compulsory leave of absence. The police arrested the Vice-Chancel-lor, Herr von Papen, and occupied his offices. However, he was released after ho had been questioned. Hitler's Hectic Night of Action. Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, opened to-night's broadcast with a picture of Herr Hitler standing on the terrace of his hotel at Godesberg after midnight on Friday gazing into a dark sky but still faithful to his principles. "None can tell what threatens, but he is full of determination against the reactionary rebels who are plunging the nation into turmoil." Dr. Goebbels dramatically continued: "Reports arrive' from Berlin and from Munich. Decisions are swiftly made. We start at 2 a.m. and are at Munich at 4 a.m., when Herr Hitler receives reports and interviews the rebels. He hurls his anger in their pale faces, rips off their badges and decides to enter the lions' den. "We are rushed by motor to Liessee and enter Herr Roelim's house unchallenged. Herr Hitler intrepidly effects arrests and later confronts the personal staff, which arrived from Munich, and orders them to return. Subsequently he speaks to the Storm Troop leaders, hastening to a rebel conference, declaring that his patience is at an end." Dr. Goebbels added: "Every hand lifted against the Hitler regime will be broken, and everyone rising up will be knocked down. The whole world is now awq,re that Germany is calm and orderly. Never was a leader so much master of the situation." •Wurtemburg Nazis have issued a statement emphasising the heaviness of the burden of the Storm Troopers, blindly obedient to their leaders, on learning that their Chief of Staff and his associates had broken their word of honour. The statement added that Wurtemburg Storm Troops would stand or die for Hitler and demand the head of every rebel.