EXECUTIONS IN GERMANY

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1934, Page 7

EXECUTIONS IN GERMANY

ANOTHER “PURGE” REPORTED THOUSANDS OF ARRESTS [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. December 28, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 27. Prague newspapers report a new purge in Germany, and state that 230 leader of Storm Troops, Black Guards and a number of high Nazi officials were arrested, and executed during the first fortnight in December. Another rumour estimates the arrests in Germany in the past month between 1000 and 4000. The purge reportedly began with the arrest of Bruckner, ex-Governor of Silesia and 50 of his supporters “for moral offences.”

OFFICIAL DENIAL. (Received December 28, Noon). BERLIN, December 27. The Government spokesman officially denies foreign reports of wholesale arrests and executions in Germany. : There have been no executions, and the reports of thousands of arrests had been exaggerated from the fact that three hundred arrests were made early in December during the campaign against sexual perversion. Of those arrested, two hundred had been released. “FOX AND HEDGEHOG.” LONDON, December 27. The “Daily Mail’s” Berlin correspondent says: “While Herr Hitler spent Christmas Eve at supper with one thousand of his old comrades at Munich, Deputy Hess broadcast a Christmas message to Germans abroad. After declaring that many persons would like to see Germany deliver up her last machine gun, he quoted the German fable of the fox and the hedgehog. He added: “Modern foxes take their orders from their Genevan Majesty. Apparently they did not intend to allow their teeth to be drawn, for which reason they could not quibble if the German hedgehog had now grown wise, and preferred Io retain its defensive spikes.” TRADE OUTLOOK. LONDON, December 27. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Berlin correspondent says: The year 1935 will provide a stern test of Doctor Schacht’s dictatorial control of German trade and industry. Germany’s home trade outlook is comparatively bright. A recent improvement in the retail trade will probably continue. Germany’s vital New Year problem is how to obtain raw materials. Much depends upon whether her experiments with home substitute products will succeed. If Germany can devise the means of financing additional imported raw materials her trade outlook will not be unpromising. If she fails, there will be great hardships for the winter of 1935. BRITISH TROOPS’ XMAS. RUGBY, December 28. One of the British Battalions in the Saar, who ate their Christmas dinner in a local hotel heard the King’s message through the kindness of the German owner, who provided a wireless set. All the British contingent celebrated Christmas in traditional fashion and in the best of spirits. The East Lancashire regiment were able to take their turkeys and plum puddings all together, non-commissioned officers for once in the year waiting on the men. The only difference was that on this occasion they drank German instead of English beer. The Essex regiment had a church parade and there was an inspection of British troops, the Italian regiment, and the Netherlands contingent by Mr Geoffrey Knox, President of the Governing Commission. The battalion of the East Lancashire regiment stationed on the outskirts of Saarbrucken 'to-daty, carried out the first long route march. The cheerful friendly demeanour of the men and their bearing are reported to have made an excellent im pression on the local population. The Saar frontiers were closed today, and until after the plebiscite, only those foreigners will be admitted to the territory, whose passports have been specially visaed. As a precautionary measure, all cafes and such establishments must Urom today, close at midnight.

CURFEW RESENTED. (Recd. December 28, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Saarbrucken correspondent says: The new passport regulations are so strict that the Saar is cut off from the remainder of Europe. Only journalists and other visitors proving legitimate business will be allowed to visit the territory. . The local population is taking with ill grace the restriction of accustomed liberties of using wine and beer balls until four in the morning. All parties are required to conform to the midnight curfew, which is. enforced to prevent, the possibility of political incidents in the small hours. Mr Knox made a Christmas presentation to ?000 poor children in the Saar. SIR A. GODLEY AND SAAR. INVERCARGILL, December 27. Asked to-day if- he could offer any comment on the situation in the Saar,. General Sir Alexander Godley said that he was not really closely enough in touch with the issues there, to discuss them in detail. “I do think, however,” he remarked “that the presence of British troops in the Saar is the best augury for a just and satisfactory solution of the question being arrived at. The record of the British Army on the Rhine, both at Cologne and. at Wiesbaden, with regard to its dealings with both the Germans and the French, and the good feeling which the British Army left behind at these places will, I am sure, be a very important factor in the Saar.”