TWO PLOTS.

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

TWO PLOTS.

NAZI OPPONENTS. Hitler Strikes at Schleicher And von Papen. TOLL OF STORM TROOP HEADS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, July 1. Conflicting reports indicate that Herr Hitler struck at two distinct plots, Herr Roehm's conspiracy, supported by Left Wing Nazis, and Herr Wagner's Junker-Reichswehr plans, with which von Papen and von Schleicher were associated. Though the aims of the two sets of conspirators differed widely, it is impossible, in the absence of authoritative reports, to say, how far each was aware of the other's plans, and to what extent tliey attempted to use each other for their own purjjoses. Two more of von Papen's adjutants are reported to have committed suicide, It is rumoured General Goering will replace von Papen as Vice-Chancellor, though it is officially denied that von Papen has resigned. It is now announced that seven prominent Storm Troop leaders have been shot, namely:—Supreme Group-Leader August Schneidhueber, of Munich, Supreme Group-Leader Edmund Heines, of Silesia, Group-Leaders Karl Ernst, of Berlin, Wilhelm Schmidt, of Munich, Hans Haye, of Saxony, Hans von Heydebreck, of Pomerania, and StandardLeader Count Streti, of Munich. In spite of earlier official denials, it is believed that a high official in Herr von Papen's office killed himself when the police arrived to search his desk. Another of the Vice-Chancellor's officials is reported to be dead. Herr von Papen is not allowed to leave his residence. Short-Lived Second Revolt. A second revolution in Germany has begun and has ended. Herr Hitler's position is stronger than ever, and it has been proved that those who raise their hands against the Third Reich will lose their heads. A semi-official statement reports that when the police went to arrest General von Schleicher at his house, which formei'ly was a sanatorium in the west end of Berlin, he drew a revolver. Shots were exchanged, and von Schleicher's wife rushed between the police and her husband, and was wounded and died later.

The Nazi Press department in Munich officially states that Herr Roehm is alleged to have encouraged attempts to sow dissension between the Storm Troops and the Nazis. This led to the intervention of Herr Hitler. One report states that the Rcicliewehr leader, General Blomberg, has ordered the removal' of yesterday's state of emergency. 'He declares that the Navy and Army will loyally support Herr Hitler. General Goering is forbidding the Storm Troops to criticise the shootings or to discuss his actions. The Brown Shirts are still on furlough without uniforms, and must not leave their homes or hold meetings. It is generally considered that Heines Ernst had wildly abused his rapid rise to power. Heines was sentenced to death, but was pardoned. later. Reorganised Storm Troopers. Under Hitler's orders, Group Leader Lutze demands that the Storm Troops shall be reorganised so that e very leader who behaves badly in public shall be ruthlessly excluded. Leaders must set examples of simplicity and must not give opulent dinners when millions of their countrymen lack the essentials of living. "1 forbid; leaders giving diplomatic dinners. (This evidently refers to Herr Roelim's recent lavish entertainments for foreign diplomats and newspapermen.) Leaders who get drunk in public are unworthy of their posts, and leaders causing rows and excesses will be mercilessly removed." General Goering announces that order has been established everywhere. The majority of people remain brave, ready to make sacrifices and stand resolutely behind Herr Hitler. It is stated in a diplomatic source that the actual cause 'of the plot was the Storm Troopers' belief that Hitler and his associates contemplated drastic reorganisation of the Brown Shirts affcer the holidays, suspending thousands of men and merging thousands of others into the Reichswehr in order to form a new militia of 300,000, for which the I Government is striving. 1