AUSTRIA’S AWFUL DRAMA

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1934, Page 7

AUSTRIA’S AWFUL DRAMA

RUTHLESS CRIME MURDER OF CHANCELLOR DISGUISED DESPERADOES PATHETIC FINAL SCENE. NO MEDICAL AID AVAILABLE (United Press Association —By ElectrU Telegraph.—Copyrlgh 1.1 (Received 9 a.m.) VIENNA, July 2G. The Chancellor of Austria, Dr. Dollfuss, was without medical aid, and died from Iqss of blood four hours after he had been shot. He was unconscious for some time. Dr. Anton Eintolen, Austrian Minister to Rome, who is known to be a friend of the Nazis, was arrested and detained by the War Ministry. The police announce that the Nazis who raided the Chancellory have been imprisoned and safe conduct to Germany has been withdrawn from them because they killed Dr. Dollfuss. An offer of freedom w r as conditional on safety of the Ministers. Dr. Schuschnigg, who has been appointed the new head of the Austrian Government, reported the death of the Chancellor. An account of how Dr. Dollfuss died has been given by Herr Adam 1 , chief of the Austrian propaganda service. In a broadcast statement early this morning' he said the Chancellor was retiring on the advice of his personal servants to the President’s room, when the ringleaders of the conspiracy broke the door and found him defenceless. One sprang forward and shot him twice, once through the neck and once under a shoulder. Dr. Dollfuss raised a hand to protect himself, twice called for help, and then fell. Major’s Graphic Story. When the broadcasting station resumed functioning, yestordaj’’ afternoon Major Fey came to the microphone and described how the Cabinet, at l l.no a.m., learned of the Nazi plot. He said: “A Cabinet meeting had dispersed in order to take active measures when, suddenly, what apparently was a detachment of police and army troops, numbering 144, entered, bearing rifles and revolvers. The invaders broke into the main room,, from which Dr. Dollfuss had already departed. They arrested Herr Karwinsky, Minister of Police, and myself and hustled us at the muzzles of their revolvers to different rooms.’’ Continuing, Major Fey said: “At 2.340 p.m. I was .taken to see Dr, Dollfuss, who was w r oundcd unto death and lying on a sofa. He feebly besought me to take care of his wife and children, and asked me to inform the members of the Cabinet of his death and to try to avoid bloodshed. “Then I was escorted back, after calling a priest to administer the last sacrament to the dying Chancellor. Karw’inshy and I spent agonising hours wdiile the Nazis, armed with rifles, threatened several times to kill us. “Subsequently, Herr NeustadterSturmer, Minister of Employment, arrived at the Chancellory and obtained ■permission to speak to mo. I went on a baleeny wdth him. We arranged to give the mutineers free exit to Germany if they released us. This was done, and the rebels were placed in police vans in order to be liberated at Passau on ths Gorman frontier. ’’

HIGHLY DANGEROUS STATE DEEP CONCERN OF ITALY GERMANY’S RESPONSIBILITY WHAT WILL BRITAIN DO ? STARTLING INVASION RUMOUR DEFENCELESS DOLLFUSS SHOT DOWN

Conditions in Austria, caused by the Nazi insurrection and murderous coup, are described as the most dangerous since the month preceding the Great War. Great excitement prevails in Italy over the developments, and that country is particularly anxious as to the attitude of Britain, upon whom reliance is placed for saving Europe from strife and bloodshed. Signor Mussolini asserts that Germany’s responsibility in the matter is aggravated by the Nazi “putsch” in Austria, and declares that Italy will not tolerate German annexation of Austria. It is unlikely, however, that Italy will take preventive military action unless by agreement with Britain and France. In the meantime, three fully equipped Italian army corps are marching towards the Austro-Italian frontier. The Austrian Vice-Chancellor, Prince Starhemberg, who is compelled by stress of weather to remain in Venice, is directing from there the operations of 300,000 Schutzheimburg members, whose mobilisation he has ordered. An astounding phase, said to he fully authenticated, was the seizure of the Ravag broadcasting station in Vienna by eight hoys, who shot dead the director, and a policeman on guard at the door. A startling rumour from Munich is to the effect that 3000 Austrian Nazi exiles in Bavaria are under arms, with the intention of carrying out an invasion of Austria. A strong military counter movement has been established for the purpose of thwarting that objective. A graphic account is cabled of the death of Dr. Dollfuss, who is reported to have been ruthlessly assassinated by one of the insurgent ringleaders, who found the Chancellor entirely defenceless and twice deliberately fired upon him. According to the new Chancellor, Herr Schuschnigg, the coup has proved a failure in its major aim, and the utmost severity will be exercised in enforcing law and order.

“BEGAN WITH A LIE” MAIN AIM A FAILURE MARTIAL LAW PROCLAIMED. (Received 0 a.m.) ‘VIENNA, July 26. 1 Dr. Schusehnigg the new Chancellor, who is aged 30, followed Major Fey. He said; “This terrible day “began ■with a lie 'broadcast by an announcer with a revolver at his head. He was compelled to state that the Government had resigned and that Dr. Rintelcn had been appointed chancellor. “The coup d’etat was planned long ago. The rebels succeeded owing to their disguises. When the remainder of the, members of the Cabinet learned the nows the. Permanent Council mot and the President, Herr Hildas, appointed mo head of the Government.” Herr Schusehnigg extolled Dr. Dollfuss and declared that the coup d’etat had failed. The Government would enforce the law with the utmost severity. Martial law and the curfew already had been imposed. A five minutes silence in memory of Dr. Dollfuss followed the broadcasts. REBEL CONSTITUENTS. DISMISSED SOLDIERS. LONDON, July 26. Tributes to the late Dr. Dollfuss were broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation. According to information from Vienna, the rebels consisted of dismissed or superannuated Austrian soldiers. CHANCELLOR’S LAST MINUTES CALLOUS TERRORISTS MEDICAL HELP REFUSED (Received 10.30 a.m.) VIENNA, July 26, Police who were on duty at the Chancellory yesterday state that a terrorist gang asked them at 1.45 whether they wore able to render first aid. They were taken to Dr. Dollfuss, who was unconscious and blooding freely. “Wo asked the leader of the gang to send for a doctor,” said one of the police, “and he replied that nobody could leave the house. They allowed us to put emergency bandages on the wounds in Dr. Dollfuss’ right armpit and his left ear. He recovered consciousness, and asked to be taken to hospital, or, alternatively, to have a doctor and a priest sent to him. “His pleadings y/ero of no avail. Dr. Dollfuss, turning to us, said: ‘Children, you are good to me. I thank you. Why are not the others the same? I only wanted peace. May God forgive the others.’ His last words were; ‘My love to my wife and children.’ He died at 3.45.”

VICE-CHANCELLOR RETURNS. AFTER LEAVING VENICE. BIG MOBILISATION ORDERED. FORTY EXECUTIONS IN VIENNA,. (Received 9 a.m.) VENICE, July 25. Prince Starhemborg, Austrian ViceChancellor, left A’cnice today for Vienna, but was forced to return Hero owing to a storm. He had a council of four with officers in Ins hotel and ordered tho mobilisation of 300,000 members of the Schutzheimlnmd. The Prince is directing their operations from Venice. It is stated here that 40 Nazis w T eve executed in Vienna,