GERMAN ARMED FORCES

Evening Post, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 11

GERMAN ARMED FORCES

CONFERENCES IN BERLIN

CAUSES OF FRICTION UNDER DISCUSSION

LONDON, January' 15.

The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says there is lively speculation as the result of a series of conferences between high officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and representatives of the S.S. (Nazi black-uniformed guards) and S.A. (Brown Shirt) commands.

The Press is completely silent, but it is recalled that similar conferences were held a year ago, when it was stated that their object was to demonstrate to the nation the unity of the new Germany in the face of lying foreign reports of friction among the leaders. There is reason to believe that the present conferences are dealing with causes of friction which are known still to exist between' the armed forces and forces like the S.S. and S.A., which are more directly identified with the Nazi movement.

It is known that the army is closely watching the S.S., which provides Herr Hitler's bodyguard and whose standing forces are stated to number 16,000, divided into four regiments stationed in different parts of Germany. They are armed with rifles, machine-guns, and armoured cars, and also have artillery units. There are also between 200,000 and 300,000 unarmed reservists. They are the elect of the Nazi movement, and the upholders of its principles in their most radical form. It is believed that they are dissatisfied with their status in relation to the army.

There is no suggestion that the stability of the regime is immediately threatened, but it is believed that it has now become necessary in the interests of stability to arrive at clear and definite understandings about spheres of competence and authority. So far, it is understood, no conclusions have been reached, but the conferences are continuing.