GERMAN ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21132, 15 March 1932, Page 9

GERMAN ELECTION.

PRESIDENTIAL POST. HINDENBURG'S LEAD. ffO ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. SECOND BALLOT NEEDED THOUGHT SURE TO WIN. By Telepraph—Press - Association—Copyright. (Received March 14. 8.35 p.m.) BLELIN, March 14. Polling took place yesterday throughout Germany for tho .Presidential election. The candidates were: Marshal von Hindenburg, present holder of Iho office; 'Adolf Hitler, lender of the Nazis; Colonel Duestcrberg, representing the Steel Helmets organisation; Ernst Thaelmann, Communist, and Adolf Winter, Independent. The latest returns give the. positions cf the candidates as follows: Hindenburg , ... . . 18,418.983 Hitler . . * . . . . 11.144.541 Thaelmann . * . . . 4.924.956 Duesferberg ..• ~• .■. 2.497,860 .Winter . . . . . 109,292 The figures show that the President's opponents polled between them a total of 18,676.649 votes. * Tho returns from Mecklenburg have still to come, but. they cannot affect the result. A second ballot will be necessary as Marshal von Hifidenburg failed to secure an absolute majority by 128,833 votes. However, his success in the gecond ballot, which will be held on April 10. is regarded as certain. The Rhineland, which is predominantly Koman Catholic, gave Marshal von Hindenburg a large majority. Also ho gained an absolute majority in Berlin, whero Herr Hitler was a bad third to Herr Thaelmann. It is significant that in Southern Germany, where tho Nazi movement originated, Herr Hitler polled fewer votes than Marshal von Hindenburg. The President also was victorious in Westphalia where the industrialist districts, hitherto doubtful, apparently at the last moment decided not to trust Herr Hitler's vague promises.

The President of Germany is elected by direct vote of the people for seven years. He must secure more than half the valid votes cast, but at a second ballot a bare majority is sufficient. The second ballot is virtually a new election. In 1925 the first election, with seven candidates, was indecisive and a second election was held at which only two of the original candidates stood, Marshal von Hindenburg being their opponent. The result of the first election was as follows : Votes. Jaures (Combined' Eight) .. 10.387.593 Braun (Socialist) .. 7,785,678 Marx (Centre) 3,883,676 Thaelmann (Communist) . . 1,869,553 Hellpach (Democrat ). . . . 3.565.1,36 (Bavarian People's Party) 1.002,278 Ludendorff (Hitler Fascist) . . 284,471 The second election, held on April 26, resulted as follows : Hindenburg (United Right) 14,639,000 Marx (Centre, Democrats and Socialists) 13.740.000 Thaelmann (Communist) .. 1,900,000 POLLING DAY SCENES. TOWNS HELP HINDENBURG. EX-CROWN PRINCE FOR HITLER. BERLIN, March 13. The first progress result after the polling for the Presidential election flattered Herr Hitler, who was given 321 votes against 12 for Marshal von Hindenburg, by the 345 electors in a tiny village in Francoriia, one of IJcrr Hitler's strongholds. The voters in the Bavarian village of Tramfzeli, where tho President spends his annual holiday, also favoured his opponent by 228 votes to 157.

Subsequent returns, however, showed that Marshal von Hindenburg was polling strongly in tho towns where the Socialists followed en masse their leader's orders to vote for him.

Herr Hitler at that time was more successful in somo of the country districts. The ex-Crown Prince, who voted at Potsdam, is reported to have cast his vote for Herr Hitler, whom I'rince August (a Nazi) also supported. Later in the day the President had an absolute, majority, the figures being:— Hindenburg, 14,358,557; Hitler. 8.293,003; Duesterberg, 1,717.199; Thaelmann, 3,781,53}; Winter, 63.795. Snow Effigies of Candidates.

In Berlin the citizens awoke on polling day to find the streets covered with Enow. This enabled enthusiasts to construct snow effigies of their Presidential choices and every square iri the city possessed a snow image of either Marshal von Hindenburg or Herr llifler. These Were jealously guarded by their supporters.

\ ast. queues of electors awaited the opening of I lie polling places at 9 a.m. Tliev were mostly situated in taverns, where the voters were able to drink the health of their champions. The police v .'ero active, all day in controlling the crowds and S(JO persons were arrested for minor offcrir-ps.

Their; were very animated scenes at fhe Nazis' headquarters. In spite of a police prohibition, motor-cars and cycles careered through the streets, the occupants distributing millions of propaganda leaflets. Often these claimed astounding success for the Nazis. .Aeroplanes slso were used by the Nazis, one of vdiich crashed, (lie occupants being injured. Remarkable Scenes in Rhineland. The activities of the Communists were chiefly confined to the working-class districts of Beilin, where many red flags, bearing Soviet emblems, were displayed. A supporter of Herr Hitler daubed in five-feet letters on the wall of a cemokry: "Veto for Hitler. The third Reich <s near." An opponent scrawled beneath this: " It, is behind this wall. There were remarkable scenes hi the Thousands of Roman Catholics at 11 p.m. yesterday went on a pii"

grimage to an ancient chapel on the outskirts of Cologne and knelt in the cold for three hours praying for Marshal von Hindenburg's success. Twenty thousand people went from this chapel in procession to the Cologne Cathedral, where they attended a special mass at 3 a.m., packing the building to suffocation. Eleven thousand of the worshippers received communion at 15 altars. This circumstance is unparalleled in Cathedrals for centuries.

The churches everywhere were crowded all day long with people who fervently prayed for Marshal von Hindenburg's return.

An outstanding feature of the polling was the unprecedented rush by women electors. Ninety per cent, of them voted, apparently for Marshal von Hindenburg. Stringent precautions were taken to preserve order throughout the country. There were frequent patrols of foot and mounted police, armed with carbines, bayonets and truncheons, in all the large cities; nevertheless there were numerous clashes, notably in Prussia, and in tho Rhineland. At Remsheid some Nazis clashed with a party of Communists, three of the latter being killed. The police rushed to the scene. Street brawling developed in Berlin during the afternoon and serious fighting ensued, moro Nazis and Socialists exchanging shots. Members of the same parties came into conflict at various towns and several were wounded. Scores of arrests were made. When the 64 pollnig places were closed at 6 p.m. it was estimated that 85 per cent, of the electors had voted. NEWS IN AMERICA. OFFICIALS GRATIFIED. HITLER'S DEFEAT WANTED. (Received March 11. 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March 14. The outcome of the Presidential election in Germany has been received with gratification by officials at Washington, and by leaders in Congress. Although Marshal von llindenburg failed to gain an absolute majority, he came so near to victory over Herr Hitler that his election at tho second ballot is believed to be assured. It is known that the Government of the United States is anxious that the Hindenburg regime should continue, and that it would have regarded a victory for Herr Hitler as a distinct menace to the European situation. The general opinion is expressed that the large vote cast for Marshal von llindenburg can be construed as an indication that the people retain their faith in his conservative and political leadership.