MAD WITH DELIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22010, 17 January 1935, Page 9

MAD WITH DELIGHT

SAAKBRUCKEN CITIZENS FRENZIED REJOICING FRONTIER BARRIERS REMOVED CROWDS THRONG THE STREETS By Telegraph—Press ARsociation—Copyright SAABBRUCKEN. -Tan. 15 Within few minutes of the declaration of the result of* the plebiscite, Saarbrucken, in spite of the cold and foggy morning, became a city mad with delight. Directly the results were known excited Saarlanders rushed to the German frontier and uprooted barriers which had been there for 15 years, thus removing the symbol of separation from Germany. Others rushed across the frontier and embraced Germans on the other side. When the huge German majority was announced a Nazi journalist in the gallery of the Wartburg Hall leapt to his feet, shouting, " Long Life to Germany." He was immediately surrounded by hundreds of compatriots who gave the Hitler salute and shouted " Heil, Hitler," which hitherto had been taboo in the Saar.

The cry echoed through the hall, and within a minute the bells of the Church of St. Johann began to peal. Immediately all the citizens seemed to be in the streets. Gay Procession Miles Long Nazi flags, hitherto forbidden, and Hitler portraits appeared magically in windows draped with flags and festooned with flowers. Motor vehicles passed in procession through the city with crowds clinging to their roofs and bonnets, shouting, "Heil, Hitler!" and singing " Deutschland Über Alles! " The city band played patriotic airs. Vast crowds thronged the pavements, dancing with linked arms, and cheered and sang. In the churches thanksgiving services were held. The rejoicings culminated this evening in a .procession miles long, consisting of men, women and children, carrying lighted Chinese lanterns and banners inscribed, "We are free," " Home again," and " Leader, we have done our duty." Dozens of bands accompanied the procession as it threaded its way through the city and its environs. Throngs of spectators received the procession with cheers and a forest of saluting arms. Mock Mourning for Status Quo The celebrations generally were goodhumoured, although a portion of the procession consisted of top-hatted men escorting a coffin labelled ''status quo," while a motor-car trailed an effigy of Herr Max Braun, Socialist leader. Another delegation of top-hatted men deposited a wreath containing an ironical inscription at the office of a newspaper which yesterday had predicted an anti-Hitler majority. Hawkers sold funeral cards announcing: " The status quo is dead. Gone to hell. Please do not visit the mourners who are suffering from nervous breakdown." Flight of Refugees Begins While similar jubilation proceeded throughout the Saar territory many opponents of Nazi-ism, fearing reprisals, packed up in readiness for speedy flight. Several well-known Socialists and Communists have departed already. The police arrested 16 Communists. The officials deny that this is a preliminary to a general round-up, but say the arrests were justified by the discovery of weapons. Socialist newspapers are ceasing publication owing to fear of their readers being known as supporters of the status quo. Herr Max Braun, Socialist leader, and Herr Pfordt, Communist leader, declare emphatically that they will hot leave the Saar whatever pressure the Nazis may exert, but will continue an underground fight against Fascism. The leader of the alleged putsch plot among the police, Herrmacht, left the Saar immediately after the result of the poll was announced.

SAAR COMMISSIONER DR. GOEBBEL'S ATTACK BITTER SPEECH IN BERLIN (Received January 16, 6.5 p.m.) BERLIN. Jan. 15 The Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, speaking from the Reichstag steps, bitterly attacked the chairman of the Saar Governing Commission, Mr. Geoffrey Knox. Declaring that his days were numbered, he accused him of siding with the status quo party. Dr. Goebbels added: "If ridicule could kill, Mr. Knox's only remaining task would be to provide a , big mass grave for separatists."

CRUSHED BY DEFEAT THE UNITED PARTY HERR BRAUN'S DECLARATION (Received January 16. 6.35 p.m.) Times Cable LONDON. Jan. 16 The Saarbrucken correspondent of the Times states that the Einheit (United) Front seemed crushed by its defeat. Its proposed demonstration became a sad indoor meeting under police protection. , Herr Braun,/ Socialist leader, declared that the " struggle against tyranny " would be carried on.

ANALYSIS OF POLL VOTES CAST FOR GERMANY MORE THAN 90 PER CENT SAARBRUCKEN. Jan. 15 In connection with the plebiscite, the total electorate comprised o-iJ.oiL voters, and the percentage ot votes cast was 97. The percentage for return to Germany was bJ.B per cent, tor th. status quo 8.87 per cent, and for union with France 0.4 per cent. Wireless broadcast relays from Saarbruckeri carried the news to all parts ot the world. . „ • The most interesting figures were in the village of Berus, on the Drench frontier, which, in a military sense, dominates the iSaar. Only 41 people out of a total of 4000 voted for return to France, while at St. Ingbert, where 13,085 voted, all were for return to Ge it m is , obvious that- many Socialists and Communists deserted the status quo cause, and that Roman Catholics unexpectedly voted in favour of return to Germany.