Show of Force

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6865, 23 May 1932, Page 7

Show of Force

GERMAN STEEL HELMETS. MILITANT AIAIS AVOWED. LONDON, Alay 10. Ten thousand picked Stahlhelms (Steel Helmets), recruited from aH over Germany, arc attending a rally at Madgeburg in which tho cx-Crown Prince and the Kaiser’s second son, Prince Eitcl Ericdrich, arc participating. A myriad flickering lights lit the vast cathedral square as the Stahlhelms marched. Wav veterans clad in old Prussian uniforms paraded. Alajor Wagner, one of tho highest officials, made a speech defining the aims of the organisation. Ho said the Stahlhelms were fostering the military spirit, because they felt that Germany was becoming apathetic.

Soldiers should tako a hand in the Government, to sec Germany again respected. The Stahlhelms wore not striving for increased armaments, but for a recovery of German’s sovereignty in military matters. It was intolerable that these should be dictated by the French General Staff.

The speech was interesting, because it accorded with well-informed reports from Geneva, that tho delegates to the Disarmament Conference discussed an arrangement whereby Germany would be given the right to increase tier armed forces, provided she did not do so for 12 years.

In the meantime the short-serviec army would supersede the present 12ycar recruitment, and German armament would be increased.