SAAR PLEBISCITE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22352, 28 August 1934, Page 7

SAAR PLEBISCITE

LAUNCHING OF CAMPAIGN SPEECH BY HERR HITLER (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BERLIN, August 26. Half a million Nazis at Ehrenbreitstein, conveyed from Germany by special trains and cars, tumultuously greeted Herr Hitler on his arrival, accompanied by Dr Gocbbels and diplomats in. order to launch the Saar, plebiscite campaign. Herr Hitler adopted a . pacificatory tone throughout his half-hour’s speech. He promised the Saar Germans that the Fatherland would receive them back as homecomers and would forget the past. Herr Hitler said: “We have made a clear cut between politics and religion, which the State will protect, if it is not exploited politically." Ten thousand carrier pigeons were released at the termination of the proceedings, prior to which messages of loyalty to the Saar were brought by 140,000 relay runners from all parts of Germany and handed to Herr Hitler. One from Rugen Island was taken by swimmers across the sound. Another from Sugspitze Mountain, was passed from hand to hand by expert mountaineers.

ANTI-NAZI DEMONSTRATION

BERLIN, August 26.

Seventy thousand Saarlanders attended an anti-Nazi demonstration at Salzbach, a Catholic priest joining’ Socialists and Communists on the same platform opposing union with Germany. The priest declared that 70 per cent, of Saarlanders were Catholics, _ and would never be reconcilable to Hitlerism. While he was speaking several young Nazis mingled with the crowds and threw tear-gas bombs. The crowd- attacked them. Many police were needed to shepherd the interrupters away. Catholic and Protestant services were held in the morning, symbolical of unity. Catholic priests participating in the Protestant services, and vice versa.