GERMAN PRESIDENCY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1932, Page 5

GERMAN PRESIDENCY

ELECTION’S FIRST RETURNS

HINDENBURG LEADING [by cabIe— PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. March 14, 1 p.m.) BERLIN, March 13. Eleven thousand four hundred and forty thousand votes were counted by ten o’clock, Hindenburg receiving 5,525,000; Hitler 3,493,000; Thalmann 1,545,000.; Duesterberg 836,000 and Winter 32,000. ' It is estimated that Hindenburg will have an absolute majority. The first progress result flattered / Hitler, who was given 321 votes against Hindenburg’s twelve, by the 345 electors of a tiny village in Franconia, which is a Hitlerite stronghold, while the occupants of the Bavarian village of Tranmfzell, where Hindenburg spends his yearly holiday also favoured his opponent by 228 to 157. Subsequent returns show that Hindenburg is polling strongly in the towns, the Socialists following en masse their leaders’ orders to vote x. for him. Hitler was more successful in some country districts, the ex-Crown Prince voted at Potsdam reportedly for Hitler, whoip ex-Prince August, a Naziite, also supported. . LATER. Progress figures show:— Hindenburg .. • ■ 14,358,557 Hitler 8,293,003 Duesterberg .. • • Thalmann • • • • Winter • • • • 837,795 . Hindenburg thus far has an absolute majority. PRE-BALLOT APPEALS. ■T ELLIN, March 12. The Graf Zeppelin is making a cruise throughout Germany, and is dropping Hinderburg leaflets. Dr Bruening (the Chancellor) in the course of a broadcast speech, urged that Marshal Von Hindenburg must win the Presidential election, i- v Germany is to live. Party passion is aflame, the country being in a fever of excitement on' the eve of the Presidential election. A street fight in Hamburg between Hitlerites and Communists resulted in one death and several were injured. There were many arrests. SNOW EFFIGIES. SCENES IN COUNTRY. BERLIN, March 13. The city awoke on the Presidential polling day to find the streets covered by snow, enabling enthusiasts to construct snow effigies of their Presidential choices, every square in Berlin posessing a snow man of either Hmdenberg or Hitler, jealously guarded by supporters. , . Vast queues awaited the opening or the booths at nine in the morning, they being mostly situated in taverns, where voters were able to drink the health of their champions. The police were active in controlling the crowds all day, who were generally peaceful. Three hundred arrests were made for minor offences. There were very animated scenes at the Nazis’ headquarters. Despite the police prohibition, motor cars and cycles careered through the streets, showering millions of propaganda leaflets, often claiming astounding Nazi success. The Nazis also used aeroplanes,, one of which crashed, the occupants being injured. Communist activities were chiefly in the working class districts of Bedim where many red flags, bearing Soviet emblems, were displayed. A Hitlerite daubed, in nve-foot letters on a cemetery wall, “Vote for Hitler. The Third Reich is near.” An opponent scrawled beneath: “It is behind this wall.”

There were remarkable scenes in the Rhineland. Thousands of Roman Catholics at eleven o’clock last night, went on a pilgrimage to an ancient chapel on the outskirts of Cologne, and kenlt in the cold for three hours, praying fox' Hindenburg’s success. Twenty thousands thence went in procession to the Cathedral where they attended special Mass at three in the morning, packing the building to suffocation. Eleven thousand received Communion at fifteen altars. This circumstance is unparalleled in cathedrals for centuries. The churches were crowded all day long, the people fervently praying fox* Hindenburg’s return. An outstanding feature of polling is women’s unprecedented rush, 90 per cent, voting, apparently fox' Hinden-

burg. Stringent precautions to preserve order were taken throughout the country. There were frequent patrols of foot and mounted police armed with carbines, bayonets and truncheons in all the large cities, nevertheless, there were numerous clashes, notably in Prussia and Rhineland. At Remsheid, the Nazis clashed with the Communists, three of the latter being killed. The police rushed thither. Street brawling developed in Berlin during the afternoon where there was serious fighting, Nazis and Soo* ialists exchanging shots. The same parties came into conflict in various towns. Several were wounded, and scores of arrests were made.

The sixty-four thousand booths closed at six o’clock. It is estimated that 85 per cent, of the electors-Voted.