BITTER WORDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23367, 8 June 1939, Page 11

BITTER WORDS

HITLER JN_ BERLIN ATTACKS BRITAIN " STEALING COLONIES " GERMANY AND SPAIN By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright 'LONDON, June 0 A parade in Berlin of German Legionaries, at which Herr Hitler and Field-Marshal Goering took the salute, revealed that at least 18,000 had participated in the Spanish war, says a message from the German capital. Herr Hitler, addressing the Legionaries, said the Spanish civil war had threatened to set Europe aflame with a Bolshevik revolution.

"I decided to join in tlio struggle in July, 1936, to assist a country determined to fight for its independence," said the Fuehrer. "In spite of the blackmailing attempts of Britain and France, we stood shoulder to shoulder with Italy, but the Western democracies tried to circumvent this ideological co-operation with lies, declaring that we wanted to conquer Spain. "These ideas are natural to Britain, which is accustomed to stealing colonics. You fought in fulfilment of my will. Germany is thankful to you."

Herr Hitler also stated that in answering General Franco's appeal to himself and to Signor Mussolini for help he had thanked him for Spain's neutrality in the Great War, in spite of Britain's efforts to bring her in. "War-mongers should now realise that every attempt to attack Germany will meet with a resistance of which encirclers have no conception," added the Fuehrer.

Field-Marshal Goering said all General Franco's important victories were obtained with help from the Germans. The King of Italy reviewed returning Italian volunteers, says a despatch from Naples. The city was decorated with Italian and Spanish flags.

INSULT RESENTED BRITAIN . NOT A THIEF MR. DUFF COOPER'S RETORT CALL TO NATIONAL SERVICE (Received June 7, G. 25 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 7 The former First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. Duff Cooper, in making an appeal for volunteers for national service at Finchley, said Britain's answer to Herr Hitler's accusation that she was a thief should be the enrolment of 100,000 volunteers within 24 hours. It would have been unthinkable before the last war that a responsible man—if he was still responsible, which his actions and words seemed to make doubtful —should have launched so great an insult at the most powerful country in Europe. If England were one hundred per cent prepared for war there would bo no war.