DRAMATIC SCENE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 147, 17 March 1933, Page 11

DRAMATIC SCENE

“Traitors” at Karlsruhe PLOT FOR OUTRAGE Hitlerite’s Declaration FRANCO-GERMAN STRIFE By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received March 16, 8.15 p.m.) Berlin, March 16. There was a dramatic scene at Karlsruhe when Herr Wagner, the Hitlerite Commissioner at Baden, addressing a multitude in the main and also the whole of Bavaria through the microphone, said that a plot had been discovered for an outrage on tiie French Consulate at Karlsruhe. This was to be perpetrated by Socialists, but laid to the charge of Hitlerites with the object of causing diplomatic strife and possibly war between France and Germany. “The two traitors concerned have already been discovered,” he said, “and will be publicly executed in this very square.” The crowd shouted its approval.

HITLER’S ORDERS ’ Nazi Murderers Reprieved RAID ON COMMUNISTS (Received March 16, 7.15 p.m.) Berlin, March 16. Five Nazis sentenced to death in August for the murder of a Communist, Pietzuch, at Zotempa, and afterwards reprieved, have now been released under orders from Herr Hitler. The crime was committed a few hours after President Hindenburg had issued an emergency decree prescribing the death penalty for terrorists. Nazi police raided the artists’ quarter in Berlin and searched scores of houses for Communist literature and art. The police used the fire escapes to enter flats from which the Communist owners fled. Red flags were later burned in the streets in the presence of large and curious crowds. A Cologne message states that the Burgomaster of Weiven shot himself following a gang attack led by a publican whose arrest he had ordered. Four armed men at Straubing dragged a Jewish moneylender named Stelzl from his bed at midnight and bundled him into a car. Later his body was found riddled with bullets. Stelzl won a slander action against a Nazi in 1931. Dr. Goebels, the new Minister of Propaganda and Popular Enlightenment .explains his functions as including the oversight of broadcasting, the Press, films, theatre, and education. The rights of criticism will not be taken from the Press, but the criticism mu.'t help the Government. President Hindenburg has decreed the restoration of the Imperial war flag, which is the Iron Cross. The Republican red and gold cockade and military capes have been replaced with - the black, white and red. Dr. Otto Braun has resigned from the Reichstag and Prussian Parliament.

SHRINKING TRADE “External Commitments Cannot be Met” (Received March 16, 8.15 p.m.) Berlin, March 16.. An judex of the world’s commercial slump is given by tho fact that Germany’s imports in February were valued at 347 million marks, a decline of 93 million marks on last year’s value, and her exports, 373 million marks, a decline of 154 million marks.

Economists have long been emphasising that the shrinkage of the trade balance has reached a stage at which it is impossible to meet external commitments. * The Chancellor, Herr Hitler, had a lengthy conference with Dr. Luther, President of the Relchsbank, whose resignation is still regarded as probable.