POSITION IN GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 7

POSITION IN GERMANY

THE SOCIALIST LEADERS HUNDREDS ARRESTED CAMPS ALREADY CROWDED (United Presa Association.) V (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) \ . BERLIN, June 25. The concentration camps, which are llreadji crowded, have been swollen by -arrests of hundreds of Socialist leaders, including 120 in Dresden' alone, due to the prohibition of the Socialist Party. FURTHER ARRESTS BERLIN, June 25. The latest arrests are those of Herr Paul Loebe (ex-President of the Rcicn■tag) and Herr Leuschner, a Socialist (ex-Minister of the Interior at Hesse), who are charged with deiogatory behaviour towards the German delegation at Geneva,, and Herr Erzing (a Catholic Deputy at Baden), who is charged with rallying opponents of the Government. SUPPRESSING THE "REDS" LONDON, June 25. Reynolds's News publishes- a queer •tory that Herr Hitler aspires to an Anglo-German alliance for the purpose of exterminating Communism. He is prepared to declare war on Russia, and requires British support to secure armaments. He believes that the collapse of . the Soviet is near. Two of his emissaries in London are sounding the Government as to whether a visit by Captain Goering would be acceptable. BISHOP OF THE REICH ■- 'RESIGNATION ANNOUNCED. BERLIN, June 25. The first Evangelical Bishop of the Reich (Dr von Bodelschwing) has re- ; signed following the appointment of Dr Jaeger, of the Ministry of Education, as State Commissioner of all the Protestant Churches in Prussia. It is recalled that -Dr von Bodelschwing was elected in opposition to the Nazi candidate. The Nazis last month suffered their first big defeat at the hands of the Lutheran Church Congress, which, after a heated debate, ratified the nomination of Dr Bodelschwing as the first Protestant Church President of the Reich, in defiance of the threat of the Nazi " German Christians " that such action might bring "direct consequences" on their heads. Twenty : nine Lutheran churches , supported Dr Bodelschwing. The committee of the Evangelical Church Union, co-operating with the Nazis, recommended the amalgamation of all the Protestant Lutheran churches under ' a Lutheran bishop, co-opeTating with a " spiritual cabinet" of non-Lutherans, whose members would direct the affairs of their own peculiar faith. DR HUGENBERG RESIGNATION PROBABLE ■'; BERLIN, June 25.' It is reported that Dr Hugenberg has tendered his resignation to President Hindenburg, who has not yet accepted it. It is stated that Dr Hugenberg argues that his resignation makes the Enabling, Act, passed by the Reichstag on March 23, invalid, because the Act is limited to the duration of the Cabinet. The Nazis deny this contention, holding that the resignations of Ministers do not affect - the powers of the Cabinet, which are held in Herr Hitler's name. APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT LONDON, June 26. (Received June 26, at 10 p.m.) The Berlin correspondent of The Times Bays that Dr Hugenberg has appealed to the. President to support his claim for the fulfilment of solemn constitutional undertakings, and requests a decision within 10 days.—Times Gable. REPORTED AIR RAID ;■■; THE STORY DISCOUNTED. BERLIN, June 25. The press and official circles continue to make the utmost political capital out of the air raid, which by a coincidence came 24 hours before the opening of Germany's aviation week with exhibitions in many cities of models of aeroplanes. It now appears not only that nobody ■aw the air raiders,' but that nobody has ever seen the anti-Hitlerite leaflets supposed to have,been scattered from the air! The authorities in Berlin say that copies of the leaflets have been filed by the' various Ministries, but are not open for inspection. . Captain Goering has decided to order two police aeroplanes immediately. ." We must have defence aeroplanes. I have not .a single machine,' he told the British United Press Association, "that could have been sent aloft yesterday. Th<> incident shows how defenceless Germany is. Communist machines might come over any time." BRITISH PRESS COMMENT STORY DESCRIBED AS " BUNK." LONDON, June 26. (Received June 26, at 8.30 p.m.) The News-Chronicle, in denouncing the •'police planes bunk," declares: "No official eye saw either the planes or the incredibly- insulting pamphlets. This was surely careless,, as the pamphlets should at least have been prepared beforehand. The obedient German press, however, shouts for police planes, and Germany will not be happy till she gets them. Simultaneously, a real German aeroplane showered Austria with antv Dolfuss leaflets, so Austria also wants police planes. The game may thus continue indefinitely." NEW CHURCH SERVICE LORD'S PRAYER CHANGED. . LONDON, June 26. (Received June 26, at 5.30 p.m.) ' The Konigsberg correspondent of the British United Press says: "For the first time for centuries the Lords Prayer has been changed from the phrasing adopted by Luther. The change is due to Pastor Muller, Herr Hitlers adviser on church matters, who, at Schlosskirche, Konigsberg, paraphrased the prayer ana final blessing into everyday speech. The whole service suggested how the rites of the church will be revolutionised at the wish of the Nazis. The new service lasted less than an hour and Pastor Muller's sermon only 15 minutes. The hymns . were accompanied by a brass band of the Nazi Storm Troops."