Tremendous Repercussions in Germany
Hess Perfectly Sane And in Good Health Received Tuesday, 8.55 p.m. LONDON, May 13. Hess has been identified beyond all possible doubt. Germany’s story that he is insane is denied. All the circumstances indicate sanity which is further confirmed by his conversations with responsible authorities in Glasgow'. The medical examination showed that he had heart and other ailments for which Hess brought his own medicine from Germany, indicating a carefully-planned flight. Rumours are circulating in London that Hess brought peace proposals but not with Hitler’s backing. It is suggested that there is a cleavage in the German Cabinet with Hess representing oue faction. Hess’s flight must have tremendous repercussions in Germany where not only is he powerful but immensely popular. Berlin’s attempt to anticipate the news by alleging mental disorder does not hold water. The Daily Telegraph says: "Hess was considered sufficiently sane to make one of the principal speeches at Hitler’s birthday celebrations as recently as April 2. Hess’s last public address was at the Messerschmitt aeroplane factory at Augsburg on May 1 when he paid tribute to German industrial leaders and workers.” “There is every reason for concluding that the flight Was deliberate,” says the Press Association, “and significantly Hess chose an aeroplane which had not enough petrol to take him back. Jt requires all one’s faculties to fly a fast fighter and hallucinations are uot associated with piloting such a machine. The possession of photographs for identity purposes also indicates that Hess knew what he was doing and where he was going. “It does not require much imagination to picture the tremendous problems of embarrassment now besetting the Nazi hierarchy with so close a confidant of Hitler as Hess in Britain. If the assumption that his flight was deliberate is correct—and it fits all the known facts —then,” says the Press Association, “it indicates a grave crack in the Nazi regime.” There is no reference anywhere to Hess having a companion. There is also some mystery concerning his point of departure. If it were Augsburg the flight to Scotland would he over TOO miles, which is beyond the reported range of a Messerschmitt 110. HOW HESS WAS CAPTURED Hess landed on the Duke of Hamilton’s estate at Stratliaven in Lanarkshire. A ploughman, David McLean, found Hess lying injured in a field and assisted him to his house where he talked with McLean’s mother and sister for nearly an hour until taken away by officials. “I was in the house,” said McLean, “when I heard a plane roaring overhead. Then I heard a erasli and saw the plane aflame in a field 200 yards away. I grabbed a hayfork and hurried to the scene where I saw a man lying in the field with a parachute nearby. “He smiled as I assisted him to his feet and thanked me. I could sec he had an injured foot so I helped him to the house. Word was immediately sent to the authorities. The airman told us he left Germany four hours previously and landed because nightfall was approaching. He said lie was unable to find » suitable landing ground so he stalled his machine over open country and jumped out. “I could see from the way he spoke that lie was a man of culture. His English was very clear and he understood all We said to him. He wore a magnificent flying suit, a gold watch and a gold identity bracelet. He did not discuss his journey but seemed most confident tiiat he would be well treated. His only anxiety was for his parachute, saying: ‘I should like to keep it, for I think I owe my life to it.’ “He would not tell us who he was, and we assumed that he was just another German airman. When the officials arrived he smiled and held out his arms, at the same time assuring them he was unarmed.”
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19410514.2.45.2
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 113, 14 May 1941, Page 7
Word Count
653Tremendous Repercussions in Germany Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 113, 14 May 1941, Page 7
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Manawatu Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.