HINDENBURG DEAD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 209, 3 August 1934, Page 7

HINDENBURG DEAD

HITLER NOW PRESIDENT. TOGETHER WITH CHANCELLORSHIP. MOURNING IN GERMANY.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 3, 8.5 a.m. BERLIN, Aug. 2.

President Hindenburg is dead

He never regained consciousness from last night’s coma. The family was at th© bedside at the end. He died of weakness and exhaustion resulting from a bladder complaint from which he had suffered for some time. A law has already been passed that henceforth th© Presidency and Chancellorship go together, and Herr Hitler has taken over both.

All the wireless stations suddenly stopped at 9.35 a.m. and then all were linked up as Berlin heard Dr Goebbels announce the President’s death. Thereafter they observed half an hour’s silence.

Dr Goebbels announced that there would be a State funeral and explained the new Presidency law. An orchestra then played “I Had a Comrade,” a well-known German military tune.

The new law concerning the Presidency provides that Herr Hitler will appoint his own deputy. Herr Hitler’s new title will probably be Leader and Reich Chancellor.

President Hindenburg had long refused medical treatment for his complaint, which he bore stoically. The mass executions on June 30 and the assassination of Dr Dollfuss, resulting in an anxious international situation, all caused additional strain and aggravated his illness.

The announcement of bis death was made to waiting Press men at Neudeck by raising a flag at half-mast. Shortly afterward it was announced from every broadcasting station. All officers and officials will observe a fortnight’s mourning, and Prussian regiments of which he was the head, will observe a month’s mourning

Until the funeral of the President, 21 guns will bo fired at 8 a.m. daily. A Doom message says the ex-Kaiser telegraphed to President Hindenburgs son as follows: “I mourn with you and the German people. A life richly blessed by the Lord has found its end. The Crown Prince will convey our last homage to the immortal hero of Tannenberg.” Prior to Hem- Hitler’s taking over the dual office, a London message states, the general expectation in Berlin was that the Nazi Cabinet was contemplating a referendum to sanction a change in the Constitution abolishing the post of President and combining the duties of President and Chancellor, probably under the title of Reichsfuehrer or State Leader. It was believed that the referendum would also ask the German people to confirm HenHitler in this post. The plebiscite on the new law appointing Herr Hitler the Reich’s leader and Chancellor is being held on August 19. „ , ... President Hindenburg’s funeral will take place on Tuesday.

>' A NATION’S GRIEF.

LOYALTY TO HITLER

DEMAND FOR INDIVIDUAL OATH

Received August 3, 11.10 a.m. BERLIN, Aug. 2. Neudeck Castle is barred to visitors and guarded by the Reichswelir. The newspapers carry enormous black borders and even the tramcars aro going in mourning, flying streamers and black crepe. Public entertainments and music in restaurants are forbidden until the funeral, which Herr Hitler is reported to have said will be the most impressive ceremony Germany has yet witnessed. Officially, Herr Hitler telegraphed to Colonel Oskar Von Hindenburg as follows: “While still deeply moved by the most unforgettable moment in my life when I was for the last time _ allowed to see and speak to our FieldMarshal I have received the tragic news which has united me with the whole of the German nation in deep sorrow. I beg you to accept my condolences and those of the whole nation.”

President Hindenburg lies on his death-bed, surrounded by Reichswehrmen pending his body being placed in a coffin to-morrow. His family requested that no flowers be forwarded, but that distribution of money be made to the poor, as the Field-Mar-shal would have wished.

General Von Blomberg, the head of the Reichswehr, has issued an order of tribute to President Hindenlmrg and expressing loyalty to Herr Hitler “Conscious of the President’s lieroic figure, we proceed to the future full of confidence in the leader of the German Reich and Herr Hitler.” Later a further order was made requiring an individual oath to' obey Herr Hitler and preparedness at any time to sacrifice life therefor.

NO RIVAL ALLOWED.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PRESS

THE ECONOMIC SITUATION

Received August 3, 11.20 a.m. BERLIN, Aug. 2. Despite arrangements for a formal plebiscite, it is certain that no rival will be allowed in the contest to HenHitler’s candidature. It is significant, though not unexpected, that the newspapers have been warned that they must not discuss the new law under which Herr Hitler was appointed President and Chancellor. The plebiscite will undoubtedly be made into a success which will be displayed throughout the world as . a fresh revelation of national solidarity behind Hitler. I In view of the gravity of Germany s economic situation interest attaches to Herr Hitler’s appointment of Dr Scliacht (President of the Reichsbank) as temporary successor to the Minister of Economics (Herr Schmidt) during the latter’s sick leave. Dr Schaeht, who will attend Cabinet meetings, upholds financial orthoxy and opposes inflation or devaluation of the mark.

BRITAIN SILENT

BUT UNEASINESS INCREASES

Received August 3, 11 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 2. The Sun-Herald Service says the British Government is silent regarding Herr Hitler’s Presidency, which is essentially Germany’s “domestic _ affair,” but the decision has certainly increased uneasiness here regarding Germany’s future.