GERMAN CHURCH WAR

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21296, 16 October 1934, Page 11

GERMAN CHURCH WAR

GROWING TENSION

FOPULAR SITPORT FOR REBELS

[L'KITKC rnBSS AKSCH'UTION— T.Y ELI.CTRIC TELEGR.U'H—COPYRIGHT.) (Received October 15, 5.5 p.m.) BERLIN, October 14. The battle between Nazi "German Christians" and 8000 dissident pastors is reaching a climax in fierceness. The secret police have been shadowing the Bishops of Bavaria and Wurtemberg. Reichsbishop Mueller spent the week-end at his Silesian estate, while pastors throughout the country protested against his policy in almost unprecedented language. Nearly all referred to the opposition manifesto, the distribution ot which the police have prevented. A congregation which overflowed into the rain-swept streets struggled to hear Bishop Niemoller endorse the manifesto.

At Munich pastors denounced followers of Reichsbishop Mueller as '"allies of heresy, laying waste the House of God." They hurled defiance at Dr. Jaeger's forcible domination of the Bavarian Church. Subscriptions were taken up in support of allegiance to Bishop Meiser, whose continuance in office was demanded.

"We Germans don't kneel and pray; we act," said Dr. Paul Goebbels. Minister for Propaganda, in a characteristic oration at Cologne.

! PROTESTS AGAINST NAZI POLICY NKiIITI.V DEMONSTRATIONS ' ONDON. October 13. The Berlin correspondent of the ''Sunday Chronicle"' says the church war is becoming more violent in Wurtemberg, where there arc nightly demonstrations in support of Bishop Wurm and other church leaders who have been deposed or arrested Police in Stuttgart are forcibly arresting pastors who refuse to resign. They are also forbidding public oraycrs. Nazi "German Christians'' interrupted services in some churches, and on two occasions blows wei'f exchanged. Thousands marched to the Episcopal Palace at Munich, where Bishop Meiser is held prisoner, and protested against his treatment, but they dispersed before the armed Nazi guards could take action. "The Times" says: '-These incidents were inconceivable in Nazi Germany a few months ago. They are significant of the hostility which Herr Hitler's present,church policyis arousing among Bavarian Protestants."

HrTLER REFUSES TO INTERVENE (Received October 15, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. The Berlin correspondent of the "News Chronicle" says that Dr. von £pp, Roman Catholic Governor of Bavaria, conferred with Herr Hitler, urging him to settle the church dispute. Herr Hitler refused to intervene. The iron hand has also been ruthlessly used in Prussia, where many clergymen have been arrested, including a high dignitary who was taken from his sick-bed.