HITLER’S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 191, 11 May 1938, Page 11

HITLER’S VISIT

Enthusiastic Scenes In Florence

THREAT IN LEAFLETS

Stricter Precautions For Safety-

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

London, May 9.

King Victor Emmanuel farewelled Herr Hitler as he left Rome for Florence in a bullet-proof train. The line of route was decorated and cordoned with troops. Vast crowds at many points gave an ovation to the Fuehrer.

Signor Mussolini travelled separately.

The dictators will fulfil an extensive sight-seeing programme at Florence. Signor Mussolini, having passed Herr Hitler en route, welcomed him at Florence. The dictators attended a reception at the Pitti Palace. The Florence correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the former capital of united Italy accorded Herr Hitler the most enthusiastic reception since his arrival in Italy. Thousands of Black .Shirts cheered wildly in the streets through which Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini travelled to the palace. Crowds clamoured until the dictators appeared on the balcony, to which they were recalled ten times.

The precautions taken to ensure Herr Hitler’s safety, however, were more stringent than in Rome and Naples, owing to the distribution of a large number of leaflets announcing that Florence would be the Fuehrer’s tomb. Helped by the Gestapo, the Italian police, who long ago had arrested all suspects, arrested a large number of other people and sent back discharged mental patients to the asylums. Nobody without a permit was allowed to enter the city. All cellars were carefully inspected and locked up.

On the eve of entraining for Munich, Herr Hitler issued a statement: “It has been too beautiful. I have been moved by the remarkable friendliness vid sympathy of the population, and I have rejoiced at the intimate understanding between Fascism and Nazism. Ours, is certainly the same world. Ours is friendship not artificially constructed.” The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says Germany is confident that the Fuehrer’s visit has strengthened the Rome-Berlin axis.

BERLIN RECEPTION PLANNED

“Jubilation And Rejoicing’’

(Received May 10, 9.45 p.m.)

Berlin. May 10,

Marshal Goering has issued a proclamation calling on the people of Berlin to receive Herr Hitler on his return from Italy to-night with “jubilation and rejoicing knowing no bounds.”

The streets are illuminated with searchlights and coloured lamps and will be lined with- Storm Troopers with torches.

Four hundred trumpeters from the Hitler Youth Movement will herald the train’s entry at the station.

OATH TO HITLER

Opposition Of Pastors In

Prussia

Berlin, May 9.

Faced witli a Nazi order that pastors of the. Evangelical Church must take the oath to Her r Hitler or be dismissed, Dr. Mueller, on behalf of the Confessional or opposition pastors of Prussia, has sent a letter to Dr. Werner, the Nazi Commissioner for the Church in Prussia, stating: “We have reason to believe that you are trying to introduce to the Church regulations applying to State officials. It is our duty to fight this attempt to change ecclesiastical law.” In conclusion, Dr. Mueller states that Confessional pastors have been instructed to take the oath to Herr Hitler only if simultaneously they declare they are still bound by their ordination oath. This means that if, as Is Inevitable, the two oaths clash the oath to Herr Hitler will take second place.

MUSEUMS REOPENED

Attitude Of Vatican City

Vatican City, May 9.

Herr Hitler having departed, ihe Vatican museums have been reopened, but admission was refused to a group of German tourists wearing swastikas.

The Vatican museums were closed on May 5, shortly after Herr Hitler's arrival in Rome. It was stated authoritatively that the Pope did not wish German tourists to visit them merely for the purpose of killing time while Herr Hitler was seeing the fleet. The Pope, addressing honeymoon couples at Castel Gandolfo, deplored the swastika flag decorations in Rome and said that sad things were happening both near and far. “The swastika certainly is not Christ’s cross,” he said.