THE HESS MYSTERY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 138, 13 May 1941, Page 6

THE HESS MYSTERY

WHAT GERMANS WERE TOLD.

LURID LIGHT ON REGIME

(United Press Association—Copyright) (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 12. Frank bewilderment is expressed here at the terms of the German broadcast giving an account of the strange disapjrearance of Hess. (Hess, as reported on page 7, landed in Scotland.;

The Deutelllandscnder, broadcasting in German tor the Germans, said the party authorities stated: “The party member Hess, who hud been expressly forbidden by the fuehrer to use an aeroplane because of a disease which lias been progressive for rears,, in contradiction of this order has been able to get hold of a jjlane recently. Hess started on Saturday, May 10. about P p.m., from Augsburg, on a flight troin which lie has not returned up to now. A letter which he left unfortunately showed, in its confusion, 'traces of a mental disturbance which justifies the fear that Hess is the victim of hallucinations.

“The Fuehrer at once ordered the arrest of the adjutants of Hess, who alone knew of Ills flight, and who in contradiction of the Fuehrer’s ban, of which they were aware, did not prevent it. “Unfortunately, under these circumstances, it is assumed that Hess crashed or met with a similar accident.”

The facts that a deputy specially chosen by Hitler should be suffering from a disease which has been progressive for years, that he should lie watchcu by adjutants, and that these should justify the fear that he is the victim of hallucinations seem to throw a lurid light on the Nazi regime, even, as one commentator phrased it, to the presumption that the H ess hallucination might have taken form that Germany could not win the war.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (Rec. # 2.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. A United Press correspondent reports that tlie radio in Berlin was beard to-night stating that Hess committed suicide at 6 p.m. on Saturday at a party.