FACTIONS IN AUSTRIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 11

FACTIONS IN AUSTRIA.

lUVAIj demonstrations. EXPECTED STORM PASSES. PEACE NOT DISTURBED. STRONG ARMY OF FASCISTS. Australian Press Association—United Servico (Received October 8. 7.55 p.m.) Times Cable. LONDON. Oct. 7. A message from Vienna says the rival Fascist and Socialist demonstrations at Wiener Neustndt to-day passed off peacefully thanks largely to the military precautions which had liren taken. All the entrances to tho town exnept the main gates were barricaded with barbed wire, and 15 machine-guns were posted in the principal square. Shock troops, equipped with gas masks and grenades, were held in readiness and cavalry guarded the danger points. Tho Fascists started first. At 9 a.m. 13,000 of them marched in procession with 11 flags, 151 banners and 12 bands. Modorately large crowds cheered tho procession, which traversed Iho main square, where the party leaders were saluted. Tho procession reached tho lilnco of asseniblv outside tho town at 10.30 a.m. At the same time, about 16.000 Socialists, with country delegations totalling another 19,000, assembled in the square. They sang and listened to speeches until 2 p.m. Tho rivals wero tlius effectively kept apart. Both gatherings dispersed quietly. A downpour of rain at 3 p.m. damped any ardour remaining. Several Communists attempted to address a Socialist crowd and wero arrested. Otherwise there was no untoward incident. The Vienna correspondent of the Times says: Though tho people of Vienna breathed a sigh of relief because tho threatened storm blew over there is little cause for congratulation seeing that onethird of tho Federal army and 2000 polico garrisoned Wiener Noustadt. Despite the warning of the July riots in 1927 nothing has been done to enforce internal disarmament, continues tho correspondent. The Fascists at present arc better trained, disciplined and armed than they were las!, year. Also they are more numerous. But tho private army of the Socialists is becoming daily better organised and more militant. Every Austrian knows the harm dono to tho country's reputation abroad by this militant spirit, but nobody attempts to stop the intolerable filibustering economic conditions. They mainly explain the creation and development of tho l 1 ascist army as a struggle for existence. Tho dangerously intense Fascist movement represents the Conservative and religious countrymen's hatred of tho city s Godless and predatory Reds.