DISTURBED EUROPE

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 3

DISTURBED EUROPE

AUSTRALIAN VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS WARLIKE PREPARATIONS “A prolonged tour on the Continent, particularly in Middle Europe, covering some 8,000 miles, including 5,000 miles by motor car, and embracing six counties, such as I made, tends to make one profoundly pessimistic regarding the prospects of peace being maintained for any length of time,” said Mr C. S. Panton, secretary to the Federal Viticultural Council of Australia, who returned to. Melbourne by the Strathuaver recently. ‘‘ I found that the people, especially in Middle Europe, in discussing the future, did not speak of whether there would be another war, but of when it would break out and which nations would bo involved in the conflict. It seemed to bo regarded as inevitable that some of the European countries would be engaged in hostilities before long, and there were some who did not hesitate to declare that things would not be better until there was another war. “ This mental attitude is not entirely surprising under the conditions which prevail in nearly all the countries 1 visited. Great sections of the people are plunged in a state of poverty of a depth which is fortunately unknown in. Australia. A great number of those in employment have to work very long hours for a wage that barely keeps body and soul together. They stagger under a load of taxation that one is reminded to the Biblical description of the poor man'—even what he hath shall be taken from him.

“ Then there are the vast armies of unemployed over whom the dread spectre of starvation ever hovers. .Is it entirely a cause for wonder that both these sections, comprising, perhaps, the majority in 'some countries, should in some vague way regard war as possibly leading to a betterment of conditions which,. as far as they are concerned, could not . well be more hopeless? Added to this is the fact that the people are made familiar with the thought of war by the representation of armed force in their daily life. “ Uniforms were to be seen everywhere in each of the countries I visited —France, Italy, ■ Germany, Austria, Hungary, and even Switzerland—and this cannot fail to have a psychological effect, creating a' ‘ will to war.’ Apart from the large regular armies, nearly every young and middle-aged man wears the uniform of some organisation more or less military in character, while the veteran dons his old uniform at the slightest excuse. Even the police, not excepting those engaged on traffic duty,, are armed with revolver and sword, and frequently a rifle as well.

“ Austria may well be the focal point of the ‘ will to war,’ which seems so widespread. The weakness of the government of.-that beautiful but unhappy country—a weakness that found expression in a burst of ruthlessness last February, and resulted in the assassination of Dr Dollfuss, the Chancellor—has not been removed by the changes made as an outcome of the spasmodic revolt three weeks ago, which can only, be regarded as a manifestation of the deeply rooted discontent with the existing conditions rather than a carefully planned move by the Austrian 'Nazis, who are very numerous and well organised. “ Austria still sits upon a volcano, and the eruption is yet to come, probably before the end of the year; and it is to the realisation of this fact that the sudden visit of the Austrian ViceChancellor, Prince .Starlemberg, to Home a few days ago may be ascribed, his object being to procure financial assistance to strengthen his military organisation. Italy, like other adjoining countries, is deeply, if not vitally, interested in the fate of Austria, and is preparing for the day when intervention becomes necessary from her point of view.” “ Shortly before the assassination of Dr Dollfuss I motored over the famous Brenner Pass, the great highvyay between Italy and Austria, which has been crossed by sixty-six emperors since it/was opened. I noticed intense military activity,.' and large army motor wagons, horses, and troops added to the dangers of the _ steep winding road above the depth below. In one locality the pass was being feverishly fortified, the excavations, apparently for guns, on the mountain sides being screened with scrim and camouflaged with the boughs of trees, while on every hand travellers -were warned off by notices indicating that approach was strictly forbidden. “ The production of a camera called fortli a stern intimation from an officer that no photographs could be taken. We did not. contest the point. We were told by a civilian that there were 20,000 soldiers in the neighbourhood, and in the pine woods we caught glimpses of encampments, the tents being camouflaged in dull green and brown, which so blended with the colours of the forest that they could hardly be distinguished from their sombre surroundings. Three weeks later, after the assassination of Dr Dollfuss, it was announced that there were 1 40,000 Italian troops massed at the Brenner Pass, and that 20,000 more were being hurx-ied forward. The question arises why there was such feverish haste in fortifying the pass. Did coming events merely cast their shadows before, dr was there definite knowledge of the contemplated coup d’etat in Austria?

“ One cannot bo long in Austria itself without being impressed by the feeling of tension that exists throughout the country. During my stay acts of terrorism were of daily occurrence, and bombings were so frequent that they had ■ ceased to be regarded as sensational news by the foreign Press correspondents The railway line near Innsbruck wasi bombed just before I passed through, and three nights before I left Vienna last month a.-great part of the city, including the large open-air restaurant at which I was dining, was plunged into darkness by the, blowing up of an electric cable. Tranis came to a standstill, and there was great alarm, the crowds in the streets fearing that the sudden cutting off of electric power was the first step in another revolution. That the authorities were equally alarmed was indicated by huge . military wagons, packed with soldiers, driving at top speed through the streets of the city. When I finally left Vienna by train I noticed that all the railway bridges and tunnels were guarded at both ends by soldiers heavily armed. “Vienna itself is apparently full of beggars—men, women, and children—some of whom' kneel upon the pavement with hands upraised in an attitude of prayer. If a motor-car stops for a moment in the streets these unfortunate people converge upon it and make pitiful appeals for assistance.”

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