GREAT DAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23010, 11 April 1938, Page 11

GREAT DAY

POLL IN AUSTRIA VIENNA EN FETE UNION WITH GERMANY SLOGANS FOR VOTERS ;VISIT BY HEM HITLER 3y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received April 10. 8.."> p.m.) VIENNA, April 10 The re is a crescendo of excitement in Vienna over the preparations for to-day's plebiscite on the union of Austria with Germany, The decorations are the most lavish in the city's history. There'are many effigies of Her" Hitler, one of which is 25 feet high. Everywhere there are slogans, such us "Blood to Blood," also "One Reich, One People, One Fuehrer." Swastikas are displayed everywhere the eyes turn. All vehicles are plastered with the one word : "Yes."

Dr. Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, proclaimed from Berlin the "day of the Greater German Reich" and ordered the hoisting of flags, thereupon almost all buildings in Austria and Germany blossomed with bunting.

Simultaneously sirens and whistles were blown at factories and by railway engines and ships. Traffic came to a standstill for two minutes and everybody stood- still with arms stretched in the Nazi salute. Herr Hitler arrived in Vienna yesterday from Linz and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of Austrians. After broadcasting bv radio last evening he left for Berlin by train. He will receive the results of the plebiscite at the Chancellery.

HERR HITLER'S BOAST CHANNEL FOR MIRACLE - PLACE IN WORLD'S HISTORY "GREAT SON OF AUSTRIA" (Received April 10, 8.5 p.m.) VIENNA, April 10 Herr Hitjer last evening delivered . »n 80-minute broadcast which was relayed through 500 radio stations in Austria and Germany- and transmitted abroad. Shivering masses escorted by party officials listened at loud speakers in Berlin, Vienna and other centres. The speech was largely designed to convince critics who might be inclined to vote in the negative. Herr Hitler twice referred to what he - called the miracle which God had worked through him; and added: "I have been working {or 19 years and ask my critics to be just and recognise all that I have ac- . complished compared with what your parties have achieved." He concluded by addressing Austria as follows: "I do not believe that Dr. Schuschnigg and the other pigmies who previously ruled the land will be remembered in another century, but my na©« will.. remain that of the great son of Austria."

FUEHRER THREATENED COMMUNIST PAMPHLETS ; PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFETY . (Received April 10, 5.5 p.m.) VIENNA, April 10 Communist pamphlets threatening Herr Hitler's life were dropped in outlying streets of Vienna. The police say they attach no importance to the pamphlets. They assert that they are the -jrork of a few extreme Austrian Communists. Nevertheless, stricter precautions are being taken for Herr Hitler's safety than was the case a month ago..

FIRST MAN TO VOTE PROBABLY GERMAN LEADER ■ . PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS LONDON, April 8 . The first man to cast a vote in the plebiscite throughout the Reich may fa Herr Hitler, says the Vienna correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. While sirens scream throughout Germany at noon to-morrow, and squadrons, of aeroplanes roar through the sky, 25,000 carrier-pigeons will be released from, the Vienna City Hall, bearing the greeting of "GermanAustria," to every corner of the Reich,

POLITICAL REFUGEES v April .10, 5.5 p.m.) "WASHINGTON, April 0 Twenty-four nations have favourably *®plied to Mr. Hull's suggestion to facilitate the emigration of Austrian political refugees. Italy is the sole disinter. ,