AUSTRIAN PRISONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21744, 8 March 1934, Page 9

AUSTRIAN PRISONS

INMATES' TREATMENT DENIAL OF BRUTALITY NO UNDERGROUND CELLS SOLDIERS EXONERATED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 7. 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 7 The News Chronicle publishes the Austrian' Government's categorical denial of the statement made by the paper's special investigator in Austria with reference to the torturing of political prisoners. The Government states that there are no underground cells and that no brutalities have been perpetrated. The Heimwehr troops have nothing to do with arrests or the custody of prisoners.

The News Chronicle's special investigator in a recent message said extreme brutality continued in most of the Austrian prisons, which were filled with 6000 Social Democrats. Hundreds of the prisoners were beaten with rubber truncheons until they agreed to give evidence against their leaders at the approaching trials. Others were bayoneted in undergrpimd cells. The correspondent alleged also that Heimwehr troops, under the orders of the Vice-Chancellor, Major Fey, and the Heimwehr leader, Prince Starhemberg, had ruthlessly searched workers' houses, threatened women, terrorised children and knocked out suspects' ■teeth with rifle barrels. As the result of these incidents, said the correspondent, workers were joining the Nazis in large numbers. Many, simply in a spirit of revenge, were determined to bo "in at the death "

ENDING DEMOCRACY FIRST STEP TAKEN CONVERSION OF PROVINCES LONDON, March 1 Austria has takon the first big step toward revolutionary conversion from democracy to dictatorship, says the Vienna, correspondent of the News Chronicle. Five provincial Parliamentary Governments have been dissolved, the proclamations declaring the election of leaders with dictatorial powers. Similar action will be taken with the other provinces. The Chancellor, Dr. Dollfuss, is thus reversing Herr Hitler's process. He is converting the provinces first. His next big step will be voting the adoption of the new Fascist constitution, which he plans to carry out with the assistance of the Christian Socialist Party, after which that party will.be dissolved.