VOTERS FAVOUR ANSCHLUSS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22375, 12 April 1938, Page 11

VOTERS FAVOUR ANSCHLUSS

POLL IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA OFFICIAL FIGURES FROM BERLIN I NINETY-NINE PER CENT. MAJORITY (tJHITSB PMSB ASSOCIATION -COPTRIOBT.) | (Received Aoril 11. 10 p.m.) BERLIN. April 11. The official result in the German lection of the plebiscite Fhows that 0 f 41,060,095 eligible to vote 40,882,959 voted. Their verdict was: Yes .. 40.413.316 No .. .. 404.547 Invalid •. 65.096 The percentage in favour of union was 99. Austrians living in Germany and eligible to vote totalled 34,849. of whom 34,668 voted Yes and 143 No Thirty-eight votes were invalid. The Austrian vote was counted leparately, 99.75 per cent, being in favour of the Anschluss. The vot-. Ing was as follows: — Yes .. 4,273,884 No .. ... 10.567 Dr. Schuschnigg, who is only under .detention, could have voted, but he refrained. Herr Hitler, broadcasting after the announcement of the Austrian voting, said: "The Austrian results. as in the rest of the Reich, surpass my expectations. It is Austria's declaration of true feeling and expression of confidence. This is the proudest hour of my life. I thank the whole German people, especially my Austrian homeland, from the bottom of my heart." Brass bands woke the populace to vote. Queues shivered in a cold wind and showers of snow.

Polling generally was somnolent in the afternoon. Although there were arrangements for secrecy m curtained booths at the polling stations, many disregarded them. However, it is usually possible to vote in the negative without danger of discovery. Herr Hitler and the majority of members of the Cabinet assembled at the Chancellery in the evening to listen to the broadcast results of the election. Vast crowds outside demanded to see Herr Hitler. When he came on to the balcony they surged forward and swept away the police, who were striving to restrain them. Herr Hitler smilingly saluted and disappeared, but the crowd vociferously appealed for his return. , The newspapers acclaim as a "plebiscite baby" a girl born in a polling station. .

GERMANS VOTE ON CRUISE SHIP

AT TILBURY LANDING STAGE LONDON, April 10. Two thousand Germans and Austrians slaving in Britain, including nurses from the German Hospital in East London, went to Tilbury in order to vote in the plebiscite. This was held on board the steamship Whelm Gustloff, on which 1500 men and women were enjoying a cruise from Germany. A chorus of "Heils" rgnt, out. and the band played "Deutschland Über Alles" as the ship came alongside the landing stage, after which there were many reunions of families and friends.

yOTTNG ON CRUISE LINER

NINETY-EIGHT PER CENT. IN FAVOUR OF UNION (MUM kMOCIATItfI TnaeßAK.) ' / • ■ V . AUCKLAND, April 11. A poll among the German and Austrian passengers and the German'crew of the Hamburg-Amerika cruise liner Reliance on the union of Austria with Germany was held last Sunday when the vessel was approaching the New Zealand coast on her voyage from Melbourne to Auckland. Nearly 98 per cent of the voters favoured the union. The wording of the voting paper was >«nt by cablegram from Germany to , Sydney when the ship was at the latter ' Port. Voting papers were printed on ; board the ship, and the voters were ' asked to signify their approval or dis- ;■ approval of the merger by putting a v cross in the appropriate "yes" or "no" square opposite the question: "Are you in favour of the union of Austria f with Germany?" i , Arrangements for the poll were made ; by the chief officer, Mr H. Meyer, and if : .voting took place between U a.m. and L' P-m. on Sunday; Those declaring :j J" the affirmative totalled 351. Neganve votes were recorded by six persons. Three voting papers were spoiled. The voters included about 60 passengers, of whom six were Austrians.