German Planes Zoom Overhead

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 7

German Planes Zoom Overhead

Hitler’s Gratitude to Duee

VIENNA, March 13. There are at present about 18,000 German troops and 200 bombers in the neighbourhood of Vienna. Twenty thousand German troops reached Innsbruck last night. The streets of the capital ir the afternoon presented an animated scene. The Ringstrasse is lined with thousands of Nazis, while German warplanes continually xoom overhead. German infantry, on marching in, were cordially welcomed. There is no sign anywhere of members of the Father land Front. Some fWjnar no”-e appeared in the streets armec with rifles.

Dr. Schuschnigg, the deposed Chancellor, is still in his flat it Vienna under protective arrest.

Ail Austrian legations and consulates abroad have been ordered to fly the swastika.

An official Gazette publishes a decree revoking Dr. von Schuschnigg’s decree banning the majority of German newspapers from Austria. Customs officers have been instructed to prevent the smuggling of currency abroad, especially by Jews fleeing from the country. Another decree revokes the Austrian decree oi November 1 last curtailing Austrian exports to Germany, so there is now no limit to expor ;.

A message from Graz states that Nazi Storm Troops are guarding the Archbishop’s palace, where excitement was caused by the discovery of 110 rifles and a quantity of ammunition i n the Maria Lankowitz monastery. It is denied, however, that the archbishop is under arrest.

Herr Hitler, at Linz, had a conference with Dr. Inquart and a number of high State officials. Dr. Inquart is negotiating for the safe conduct of Dr. von Schuschnigg to Switzerland. Herr Hitler later visited Leonding and placed a wreath on the grave of his mother and father

,An announcer, interrupting a broadcast from Vienna, read without explanation the following telegram, which Herr Hitler had sent to Signor Mussolini: “I shall never forget this of you.—Adolf Hitler.”

German troops continue to arrive, including a detachment of Herr Hitler's personal regiment. All will remain until the plebiscite is taken.

Prince Starhcmberg was taken into custody while attempting to flee from the country. Herr Himmler has been entrusted with the task of “co-ordina-tion of Austrian political life.”

Storm troops occupied the premises of the trade unions and discovered that many archives had already been burned. Practically all the provincial administrations have been reorganised, Nazis replacing responsible officials. It is announced that the official rate of exchange, Austrian schilling to German mark, is 1.53 schillings for one mark, as compared with 2.10 to mark hitherto.

A Sofia message says: Satisfaction is expressed at the Austrian change of Government.