GERMANY’S TROUBLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1939, Page 7

GERMANY’S TROUBLES

CURRENCY MANIPULATION “SAFE” BANKERS DISMISSED [by CABLE —PBEBS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] BERLIN, February 4. Herr Hitler has dismissed Dr. Erhardt and Dr. Blessing, directors of the Reichsbank and members of the old school of conservative Ijciiikors* * Dr. Kurt Lange, a member of the Economics Ministry, Dr. Bayrhosser, Finance Minister, and Dr. Wilhelm Albrecht, director of the bank, will take over duties. A later message says that Dr. Vocke, of the Reichsbank, has also been dismissed.

RAILWAYS DISORGANISED

MUNICH, February 3

The Railway Department admits that the south-German lines are unable to maintain the passenger schedule owing to defective equipment and exceptional goods traffic, especially to Italy. The wholesale cancellation of passenger services is announced. Special excursions and winter sports trains are being removed permanently from the schedule. The authorities admit that at present they could not cope with an emergency similar to that of September. Accidents increased by 14 per cent, in the first nine months of 1938. Many railwaymen are striking against the regulations. The average working day is often sixteen hours. It is estimated that £200,000,000 is needed to return the railways to a good footing..

FOOD SHORTAGE IN AUSTRIA.

(Recd. February 6, 10.30 a.m.) VIENNA, February 5.

Herr Buerckel, addressing a Nazi mass meeting, admitted there was grumbling against the Government, owing to food shortage, but exculpated the Government, declaring the fault lay at the door of hostile democracies, whose threats of war compelled the production of guns instead of butter. STAGE JOKES BANNED.

BERLIN, February 3.

The Minister of Propaganda (Dr. Goebbels) has ordered the exclusion from the Chamber of Culture of several of the best-known revue and cabaret artists for joking about the Nazi regime. They will no longer be able to appear on the German stage. AIR FORCE REORGANISATION. LONDON, February 4. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says that the reorganisation of the German air force means that in future the air force will be divided into three separate air fleets—west north, and east —commanded respectively by General Sperrle, General Felmy, and General Kessering. There is no mention of a southern command. It is suggested that Italy is apparently being left to look after the south.