HONEYMOON ENDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23505, 20 May 1938, Page 8

HONEYMOON ENDED

MARSHAL VON BLOMBERG i United Hi'pss Association) (By Electric Telegraph- Copy rght) COLOMBO, May 18. The former German Minister of War, Field-marshal von Blomberg, and his wife arrived at Colombo today on their way back to Europe after their honeymoon. They posed for photographers. Marshal von Blomberg, who was wearing shorts and tennis shoes, intimated that he is giving up politics and retiring into private life. He spoke enthusiastically of Herr Hitler, whom he described as “ my great friend.”

Following Field-marshal von Blomberg’s secret marriage with his 29-year-old secretary, Fraulein Gruhen, on January 31, the 1 Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph said he was likely to return from his honeymoon tc find that his marriage had created a situation requiring the highest diplomacy, as it caused a storm of criticism in th* army, where the matrimonial affairs of young officers are subject to the strictest rules. Emulation of the War Minister’s example would be disastrous to their careers. On February 4 Field-marshal von Blomberg was retired “owing to ill-health,” and, following Herr Hitler’s purge of the armed forces, he himself assumed supreme command.