TO DEFEND EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 11

TO DEFEND EMPIRE.

Hitler Offers Nazi Soldiers

To Britain?

" THE LINK" CONTROVERSY.

LONDON", August 12.

"When I was last in Germany a friend told me that Herr Hitler had offered his soldiers to defend the British Empire. But the offer was rejected."

Admiral Sir Barry Domvile, chairman of "The Link" council, the organisation which the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, described as an agent of Nazi propaganda, told the "Daily Express this in an interview at his home.

"I sav there will be no war, but if there is, the British Empire will be in bad shape," he added. e have a weakened Navy, and the submarine menace will be greater than in the last war. "We have taken on the added encumbrance of Palestine. Our hope lies in a peaceful understanding between the people of Germany, France and Britain."

When told that Mr. C. E. Carroll, the editor of "The Link's" official organ, the "Anglo-German- Review," was annoyed with him for being photographed beside a picture of Herr Hitler, Sir Barry said:

:i Stuff and nonsense! Most men in Britain admire some of the things the Fuehrer has done.

"Sir Samuel Hoare's attack on us proves this, because members have since been pouring in and only five of our 5000 members have resigned. I take Sir Samuel's words as a direct insult to my personal honour, and will fight them for all I am worth."