STATE OF TENSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22328, 31 July 1934, Page 9

STATE OF TENSION

CONDITIONS IN VIENNA ALL BUILDINGS GUARDED HEIMWEHR PUTSCH FEARED (United Press Association.) (By Electric. Telegraph—Copyright.) VIENNA, July 29. The capital is still in a state of tension. Heavy guards are retained at nil public buildings, particularly the broadcasting station. The latest scare was the apprehension of a Heimwehr putsch, which did not materialise, Major Fey personally denying the possibility of it. and declaring that the Heimwehr, as guarantors of the new Austria, would continue to support the. Government. Further provincial skirmishes occurred at Lamprechtsbauscn, where 15 persons are dead and 25 wounded, at Maudlins where two soldiers and nine Nazis killed: and at' Hallein, where two men were killed. Salzburg, itself is completely peaceful, and a full audience is witnessing the musical festival, despite reports, which afterwards proved unfounded, of an <'hgagemeut between the Reichswehr and Austrian legionaries in German territory opposite. Kufstqin. Austriau troops at Lavamunde drove a. dozen Nazis to the frontier. The Austrians could not fire, because Ju?>slavian guards were on their own territory close behind the fugitives. The position was maintained for several hours before the Nazis surrendered, the Jugoslavs in the meantime supplying them with food and drink. TROOPS AND NAZIS FIGHTING IN CARINTHIA LONDON, July 29. The Sunday Times's special cot respondent says: " Carinthia resembles a war zone. The roads are blocked, and the military ambulances are filled with wounded. Nazi sharpshooters are taking incessant toll of the Government troops. When the full casualty lists, are published the Nazi dead will probably total thousands and the Government casualties hundreds. "Only the Government's promptitude in wrecking the cable between Broadcasting House • and the, transmitting station averted the issue of orders for a general Nazi uprising." JUGOSLAV FRONTIER AMAZING SCENES WITNESSED VIENNA, July 29. -Amazing scenes were witnessed on the Jugoslav frontier, whither defeated Nazis were fleeing to escape the Government forces.. The bridges were so congested that hundreds plunged into the turbulent mountain rivers, carrying th ir rifles above their heads. The Jugoslafrentier guards, reinforced by troops from Belgrade, disarmed the fugitives. Others, finding the frontier closed, a.-e entrenching themselves and have blown up bridges and roads, checking the Government troops' advance. Other Nazis retreated to secret arsenals in the forest south of Vienna, and occupied mansions which in the past year had been converted into armed fortresses capable of withstanding attacks ". _i GERMAN FRONTIER CLOSED MUNICH, July 29. The Austro-German frontier is again completely closed. FEARS OF WAR GROUNDLESS LONDON, July 29. Lord Hailsham (Secretary of State for War) regards the fears of a repetition of 1914 as groundless, inasmuch as Kurope was then divided into two armed camps, whereas now the whole world ia united in condemning the Nazis' dastardly outrage. GERMAN PRESS CRITICISED CARICATURE OF DR DOLLFUSS VIENNA, July 29. Further arrests, are . announced, consisting of Inspector Grossman, Karl Huber (director of the Graz Broadcasting Station), Ertl (editor of Deutsche Ruiidschau), Gotzmann (an army officer), and Bintelen (the Ambassador's son). Colonel Adam, chief of propaganda broadcasting, bitterly criticised the German newspapers' treatment of the rebellion, and described some items as almost unbelievable, including a caricature of Dr Dollfuss at the time of his assassination. He added: "It must be unprecedented to caricature a man in the act of dying." THE OBSERVER'S COMMENT SEQUEL TO THE OUTRAGE LONDON, July 29. ; Describing Germany as Public Enemy No. 1, the Observer in an editorial says: ' ; An ' important and perhaps historic sequel to Wednesday's outrage is the increasing concentration of world thought not on Vienna, but on Berlin. The very friendliness- of Germany may yet prove tin asset for peace. Dr Dollfuss did more than anv man to save Europe, including Germany, from the Nazi terror. This h his true monument. His tragic death cannot fail; to hasten Hitler's collapse." MARTIAL LAW IN SALZBURG . VIENNA, July 29. The fighting in Carinthia largely ended with the capture of Bleiberg, although the Nazis are still entrenched in the neighbourhood of Lavamunde. An outbreak at Salzburg necessitated ir.artial law on the eve of the worldfamous musical festival, which many British and foreigners are attending. GOVERNMENT CASUALTIES VIENNA, July 29. "Herr Karwinsky says that Government forces casualties were 78 killed and 165 wounded, but the Nazis' casualties are not known. - DESPERATE NAZIS ROVING IN ALPINE PROVINCES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 28. A few bands of desperate Nazis remain in the alpine provinces, where conditions make the capture of small mobile parties a difficult task. It will not be surprising if the Government forces take several days to finish completely the . cleaning-up process. Elsewhere in Austria, however, order reigns and railway anoVother public services are normal.

Vienna, after recent events, is the breeding place for rumours, although a broadcast made at midnight by Prince Starhemberg served to strengthen public confidence. He declared that Austria's complete independence would be absolutely maintained. They could consign certain events to the past only if they were guaranteed absolute freedom from outside interference in the conduct of their own affairs. Assurances must first be confirmed by deeds. THE NEW CABINET A MIDNIGHT MEETING VIENNA, July 29. A midnight meeting of the Cabinet appointed Herr Schuschnigg Chancellor, Prince Starhemberg Vice-Chancellor, and Major Fey Minister of the Interior. Herr Schuschnigg is a staunch Catholic, but never an extremist in politics, hence his selection. The conference of Miuisters followel Prince Starhemberg's interview with President Miklns. There had previously been evidence of a big effort to secure his election as Chancellor, which would ensure immediate effort to restore the monarchy. The decision to appoint Dr Schuschnigg is regarded as a welcouo compromise, for although he is a Monarchist he is not an ardent supporter of its immediate return. Moreover, he has never aroused the personal animosity which Prince Starhemberg and Major Fey have aroused among Socialist Nazis. Otto Bergerwaldcnegg, who favours the Heimwehr, is Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Karl Buresch Minister of Finance. Prince Starhemberg is also Minister of Security and is thus responsible for the gendarmerie, the police and the auxiliary forces. He will also yeside over a special committee, of Ministers for extraordinary measures <f security, Major Fey being his deputy. Though Herr Schuschnigg has been appointed Chancellor three other of the most important posts are held by Heimwehr men, victory thus belonging to the Heimwehr. It is understood that the Pope us?d his influence for Herr Schuschnigg's election. The Heimwehr leaders ' ridicule rumours that the Heimwehr attempted to dictate the choice of Chancellor, and the non-election o"f Prince Starhemberg to the Chancellorship is evidence of the truth of the denial. HERR VON PAPEN'S POSITION DISADVANTAGE TO AUSTRIA LONDON, July 29. The Sunday Times's Vienna correspondent says: "The Italian Minister has conveyed to Prince Starhemberg Signar Mussolini's personal request that he should refuse to accept Herr von Papen's appointment. Signor Mussolini said he considered that the appointment of von Papen would place Austria at a disadvantage in the forthcoming negotiations with Berlin, in respect to Austrian independence." / ITALY'S ATTITUDE A JOLT FOR GERMANY ROME, July 29. Italy-, in future, will not be associated with any diplomatic representations, says the Messaggero, commenting on the Austro-German situation, "The German promises have not been observed. We shall not treat on a parity with people failing with such cynicism to observe the laws of honour. There is no Government which has not to-day the right to,assume entire liberty of action in. regard to Germany." The intensely Fascist, Ottobre says: " Scratch a German and you will find a barbarian." ITALIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS BERLIN, July 29. The papers are only now publishing Italian troop movements, which the Volkischer Beobachter declares cannot be directed against Germany, but merely to protect Italian interests in Austria. The spokesman for Herr Hitler declares that Germany will welcome elections in Austria as the only means of clarifying the situation. NAZI FUGITIVES DISARMED IN JUGOSLAVIA VIENNA, July 30. (Received July 30, at 8 p.m.) A message from ' Zagreb announces that 600 Nazi fugitives crossed the Jugoslavian frontier and were disarmed an 1 interned. They declare that 800 of their comrades are still in the mountains on the Austrian frontier, prepared to sell their lives dearly, shooting Government troops from behind rocks and from treetops. They possess 20 machine guns and 40,000 rounds of ammunition. An investigation into the Styrian and Carinthian revolts resulted in the arrest in Vienna of Herr Appold, managing director of the Alpine Mountain Mining Company, which employs many men 'n the Austrian Alps. The president of the Vienna German Club, Lieutenant-field-marshal Bardolf. was also arrested.