AUSTRIAN RIVALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22541, 5 October 1936, Page 9

AUSTRIAN RIVALS

DRAMATIC MOVES IPRINCE AND HEIMWEHR LEADERSHIP DISPUTE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 4, 5.5 p.m.) VIENNA, Oct. 3 The struggle between Prince von Starhemberg and Major Fey for control of the Ileimwehr has been marked by dramatic moves. In the first place at a partial conference, the party expelled the Prince from leadership, but last evening his supporters, at a larger conference, dismissed Major Fey. The latter thereupon conferred with the Chancellor,, Dr. von Sehuschnigg, who now has forbidden the newspapers to publish Prince von Starhemberg's communiques. Ma jor Fey has proclaimed hiinwlf supreme leader of the Vienna Ileimwehr, and declares ho will fight the Prince to the end.

Originally a counterpart of the semimilitary Socialist organisation, the Sehutzbund, the Heinnvehr diminished in importance after the suppression of the Socialist Partv in Austria.

On May 15, Dr. von Scliuschnigg announced that all armed organisations, outside the voluntary militia, were superfluous, and the Heinnvehr, in common with other formations of a similar character, was disarmed. In his speech to the sub-leaders of the Fatherland Front, the command of which he took over as the successor of Prince von Starhemberg, the Chancellor said the timo had come for a strong one-man rule. He appointed Herr Quido Zeruatto. a Heimwehr man as ViceChancellor, and Herr Baar von Barenfels, another Heimwehr man, as his deputy and commander-in-chief of the militia.

In praising Prince von Starhcmberg for his great work for Austria, the Chancellor added that their differences were only minor ones. Ho hoped their friendship would continue as they shared the desire to free Austria.