OMINOUS TURN IN AUSTRIA

Northern Advocate, 18 October 1935, Page 5

OMINOUS TURN IN AUSTRIA

March Against Capital a s CABINET RECON- ■ STRUCTED ; MAJOR FEY DEPOSED lUnited Press Assoclation-By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright .] (Received 10.30 a.m.) VIENNA, October 17. mHE sudden posting of machine guns at the broadcasting station (where fierce fighting took place when Dr. Dollfuss, then Chancellor, was assassinated in 1934), the mountng of a heavy guard over the Chancellory and the appearance in the streets of steel-helmeted police armed with rifles, startled the people of Vienna and heralded a grave political crisis. It was known previously that ; Fascists and Heimwehr forces in ■ Lower Austria were marching on the capital for the purpose of enforcing re- : construction of the Cabinet, involving : j especially the elimination of Major ’Fey, Minister of "the Interior, who ' ! came into prominence when Dr. Doll- ! fuss fell, / An Official Denial. The report is officially denied, but the fact remains that Cabinet was has- * tily summoned and drastic military precautions were taken throughout Some streets were blocked by troops and armed police. The Chancellor, Dr. Kurt Schusnigg, after a prolonged sitting, handed in the resignation of the entire Cabinet to President Miklas, who authorised the formation of a new Ministry. This, when announced, showed that Major Fey had gone, having been replaced by Herr Barbarenfels. Five New Ministers. Altogether there are five new Cabinet Ministers, The Heimwehr gained one post and are now represented by six Ministers against four Catholics. Moreover they secured more important posts, such as that of Agriculture. Their position must be regarded as strengthened. Major Fey who has been in the Ministry for exactly three years, was once regarded as the strong man of the Cabinet and as Prince von Starhemberg’s rival. The next : move cannot he forecasted. Wide rumours are circulating of a. putsch. Major Fey’s residence is strongly guarded, a machine gun being placed in a window. It has been announced that all the Austrian military auxiliary forces have been united under the command of Prince von Starhemberg as voluntary militia.