EASY VICTORY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 168, 12 April 1932, Page 9

EASY VICTORY

German Presidency

HINDENBURG’S LEAD

Voting at Second Ballot

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.

Berlin, April 10.

It is estimated that 75 per cent, of the electors voted at the second ballot for the Presidency to-day, when FieldMarshal Hindenburg was re-elected by a substantial majority. The usual Sunday atmosphere prevailed over the country, the only signs of the election being Red flags in working districts and armed police patrols. Numerous faction fights took place, the Nazis shooting a Communist dead in the night-time in Berlin, where partisans all day long had been destroying election posters and attempting to set fire to hoardings. . The police were active in intervening in Nazi-Communist scuffles. In preventing a Communist demonstration they made 300 arrests. vigilance ensured comparative peace at Munich, Herr Hitler’s headquarters, where the Nazis made a vigorous lastminute campaign. The authorities overlooked minor offences, Including showers of propaganda leaflets, and concentrated on preventing assemblies of Nazi “storm troops,” liable to produce rumours of a putsch. A workman was killed in a street fight at Hamburg. Many were seriously injured. At Hamm, Bruehl, Treves, and Soldin many rowdies were arrested. The unofficial result of the election is:— Hindenburg 19,367,088 Hitler 13,419,003 Thaeimann 3.705.898 The voting nt the first ballot on March 13 was:— Hindenburg (Constitutionalist) • 18,418,983 Hitler (Fascist) 11,144,541 Thaeimann (Communist) ~ 4,924,9u6 Duestcrberg (Nationalist) .. 2,497,860 Winter 109.292 NAZI STRENGTH GROWS Helped by Communist Vote (“Times” Cables) (Rec. April 11, 7 p.m.). London, April 10. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” states that despite President Hindenburg’s easy victory, to which the abstentions of hundreds of thousands of Left Wing Communists contributed. the Nazis are delighted with their increase in strength and declare that it will bo even greater in the Prussian. Bavarian, and Wurtemburg elections. It appears that Herr Hitler not only gained a majority of Ilerr Duesterberg’s followers, but he also gained a large proportion of the Communist vote. , There was. in addition, a heavily increased poll throughout. DR. LUTHER SHOT Two ex-Nazis Arrested Berlin, April 10. Two 'well-dressed men were noticed on the platform as Dr. Luther, president of the Reichsbank, was entraining for Basle to attend a meeting of the Bank of International Settlements. One drew a revolver and fired several shots. Only one hit Dr. Luther, slightly grazing his arm. He continued his journey. The men arrested admitted that they were formerly Nazis dissatisfied with Germany’s financial policy.