Vienna Gives Frenzied Welcome

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 5

Vienna Gives Frenzied Welcome

" We Are Now 74-million People

No Need to Await Plebiscite

VIENNA, March 14.

Herr Hitler arrived at 4.45 p.m. “There is no need to await the plebiscite; the nation has spoken to-day,” exclaimed a wireless announcer in describing the scenes of Herr Hitler’s advent. The Fuhrer standing on the balcony of his hotel, reviewed a march-past of Austrian and German troops while officers, officials and workers mingled with the crowd and joyously embraced each other. Herr Hitler, who after retiring to his suite received the homage of Dr. Inquart and of the National leaders, repeatedly reappeared on the balcony amid rolling bursts of cheers.

Following hours of frantic singing and cheering by the crowd,. Herr Hitler made a short address.

“My German co-nationals,’’ he said, “what you feel at this moment I have been also feeling in the past few days. Whatever happens, the Reich will never fall asunder. Nobody can force it from its path. No threat, no misery, no violence will cause this oath to be broken. We are now 74,000,000 persons, one Reich. This oath is sworn by Germans from Cologne to Koenigsberg, from Hamburg to Vienna.

“A great and historic turning-point has come to the German nation. The whole of it xeperiences what you are living through, which deeply moves all its millions,” Herr Hitler was wildly farewelled on departing from Lins on the 120-miles ear journey to Vienna. The entire road was lined by hundreds of thousands of the populace in addition to troops, giving the appearance of a triumphal procession as he drove slowly amid a storm of acclamations and shouts from peasants: “One people! One Reich! One Fuhrer!” which echoed along tho whole route. Finally, driving at the salute in a flower-filled car, Herr Hitler reached the Imperial Hotel, Vienna, appeared on the balcony and acknowledged the frenzied welcome and deafening plaudits.