Fatherland Front Members Arrested

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 61, 14 March 1938, Page 7

Fatherland Front Members Arrested

Dr Schuschnigg Under Guard Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, March 12. The Times’ Vienna correspondent says that an official Austrian voice, speaking from the Chancery, said that the course of the afternoon’s historical events was that Germany first asked for guarantees that the voting in the plebiscite would be secret. This was conceded. The next demand was for a postponement of the plebiscite. This also was conceded. Then Field Marshal Goering transmitted orders to Dr. Inquart that the retirement of Dr. Schuschnigg, two-thirds of the seats in the Cabinet and the admission of the Austrian Legion to support the Austrian Executive forces in maintaining order, was demanded. There is no doubt the plebiscite would have yielded a substantial majority in favour of Dr. Schuschnigg’s Government. This is the real reason for the Nazi antagonism. The arrangements made showed that the vote would be perfectly fair, and if the Nazis had a majority in Austria, they could have shown it at this poll. ‘‘lndependent Austria,” as it has been understood for the last five years, is dead. Immediately it was announced over the radio that Herr Miklas had entrusted Dr. Inquart with the leadership of the Government the Horst Wessel song was played and repeated at intervals. Hundreds of important Government officials throughout Austria have resigned, including Herr Schmitz, Mayor of Vienna. It is stated that the police, who are occupying Government building's, have arrested a number of members of the Fatherland Front. Herr Klausner, broadcasting from Vienna, said: "Austria is free! In Austria the Nazi Government’s first task will be to find work and bread for all Austrians. In this hour I ask you to think lovingly of our leader, Herr Hitler, whose flag now flies over his homeland. One people, one Reich, one leader; heil Hitler!” Some hours before the German troops crossed the frontier it was officially announced in Berlin that Dr. Inquart had telegraphed Herr Hitler as follows: "The provisional Government which, after the resignation of Dr. Schuschnigg’s Government, sees as its task the restoration of peace and order in Austria, addresses to the German Government an urgent request to support it in that task and help preventing bloodshed. Fijr this purpose it asks for the despatch of German troops as early as possible.” Dr. Inquart has issued a decree for the immediate dissolution of the Patriotic Front and closed down a number of newspapers. Dollfus Square has been re-named Adolf Hitler Platz. Many Fatherland Front members have been arrested, including the distinguished Press chief, Colonel Adam. Dr. Schuschnigg is confined to his home under guard. The Nazis have taken over the Austrian Press Bureau and Germans are supplanting the Austrian staff. It is officially announced that the Austrian Fatherland Front has been dissolved. German aeroplanes are showering the capital with leaflets: ‘‘Nazi Germany greets its Nazi Austria and the new Nazi Government in faithful and indissoluble union.”