HITLER MYSTERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25051, 15 November 1944, Page 5

HITLER MYSTERY

OBSERVERS' COMMENTS

HIMMLER MAY NOW RULE

RUMOURS SPREAD IN GERMANY (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14 The Hitler mystery is still intriguing London observers. The German radio last night omitted from home service broadcasts reassurances about Hitler's health, which were broadcast earlier only in overseas programmes. These declared that the fact that Himmler broadcast the proclamation on Sunday was "in no way proof" of widespread reports that Hitler is incapacitated or de*ad. It is now thought in London that if something has happened to Hitler the Himmler-Goebbels combination, which seems to havo taken control of Gteimany, will not' bo able to keep the f ac ,ts from the Germ an people. Himmler still used the Fuehrer's prestige to back Sunday's proclamation, but London commentators consider the time is rast approaching when Himmler may feel able to make an announcement placing himself in absolute control. Anti-Hitler Placards

Since the purge of Hitler's generate and other opponents of the Nazi regime every attempt has been made to popularise Himmler with the masses. The German press has carried articles describing him as a home-loving man of the people, to whom a grave injustice has been done in picturing him as an ogre and sadist. The Moscow radio says: "Fantastic rumours about Hitler are spreading throughout Germany. Many Nazi Party members are convinced that Hitler has gone mad and that other high Nazi officials are packing their bags." The radio reports that large anti-Hitler placards have appeared on buildings in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. In Berlin yesterday appeared a large cartoon of Hitler, with the words: "This is our murderer." Other placards have slogans snch as: "Down with the war," or "Down with Himmler."

The Moscow radio says these reports are based on reliable information from inside Germany. Berlin Excuses It was reported earlier that, declaring that Hitler is in good healthy the Berlin radio broadcast a statement from the German news agency replying to rumours circulating abroad concerning the Fuehrer's health. "Because Hitler did not read his proclamation it has been said abroad tliat he is ill," the statement said. "Hitler has never read any of his proclamations, which have always been read by one of his Ministers. He is discussing at length all current events, and gives orders in his own vigorous manner." The German radio political commentator Dr Semmler said: "It is clear to everyone inside Germany, and must be clear to the whole world, that it was Adolf Hitler's own words which his closest collaborator, Himmler, read out. If the Fuehrer has spoken so seldom during recent months, and was compelled to pass on this task to his nearest collaborator, we know nevertheless' that every single word of his has very special importance. Our leaders will not let down the German people as the cowardly Government did in 1918." The German anti-Nazi secret radio, Atlantic, says Hitler's speech suggested that Hitler may have fled Germany. The radio called attention to the closing sentence in the Hitler .proclamation, which said: "And so I greet you from far away." The announcer added that where "far away" might be was not suggested.

SNOW IN AACHEN AREA •ISOLATED AMERICANS SAFE LONDON, Nov. 13 Another heavy blanket of snow fell on the American First Army front during last night and the sky was black this morning with the promise of more. Two American infantry companies, cut off since Saturday afternoon in the slushy, dripping "Indian country" of Hurtgen Forest, in the Aachen area, have now linked up with support forces. Other American units were forced to vield ground yesterday west of Schmidt before a savage counter-attack.

SENTENCES IN PARIS RELEASE OF SACHA GUITRY (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14 Marcel de Montaingnijc, manager of the collaborationist newspaper Nouveaux Temps, has been sentenced to ten years' hard labour, says a Paris message. Pierre Geran has been sontenced to five years for producing anti-TJewish, anti-Masonic and anti-Communist films during the German occupation. Saclia Guitry, the famous actor and playwright, " has been released from concentration camp and granted conditional liberty pending the cancellation of charges of collaborating with the Nazis. » *

PRETENDER ARRESTED COMTE DE PARIS WOUNDED PARIS, Nov. 13 The newspaper Liberation Soir reports that the Comte de Paris, pretender to the French Throne, was arrested at Perpignah, in France. He was wounded in the shoulder while being taken into custody. Under the law of 1886 "the heads of a family which has reigned in France and the eldest direct descendants are •forbidden access to French territory under pain of from two. to five years' imprisonment." The Cointo de Paris is 30 years of age and has nine children.