A BOMBSHELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24606, 14 May 1941, Page 7

A BOMBSHELL

NAZI SPLIT IS PURGE IMMINENT? MELODRAMA OF WAR DISCLOSURES EXPECTED (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 12. The authorities anticipate Hess disclosing facts about Germany under the Nazis which Hitler would give anything to conceal. It is added that the escape indicates a serious split in the Nazi Party. The Germans were fooled when, on Saturday and Sunday, they did not receive news, and they spread the story of the air trash, but branded Kess as insane, still anticipating that a succesful landing was possible. Hess is a skilful aviator, and medical examination definitely belied the German version. Hess's arrival in Scotland caused a sensation in America, and the newspapers carry heavy two-inch headlines. The New York Times editorially declares: "This is the most fantastic story in all history. Hess was sane enough to pilot the plane and his escapade seems to be an escape from a purge or an attempt to represent a reactionary group within the Nazi Party The escapade must have a terrific effect in Germany, particularly on Hitler." The Herald-Tribune .says: "This astonishing episode fits into the pattern of the nightmare of fantasy and unbelievable melodrama on the stage of horrors with which Hitler has engulfed the world, and we assume that Hess must be mad." The Washington correspondent of the New York Times describes the news as a bombshell to the capital, and it is believed that the heavy blow to Nazi prestige is sufficient to offset the results of the invasion of the Balkans and will cause small nations to draw back from Germany. The news might indicate that Hess no longer believes that Germany can win. The news of Hess's desertion was broadcast to Germany and Italy early this morning, and will be repeated at frequent intervals throughout the day. Hess sat beside Hitler on Mav 4 at. the Reichstag session. Mr Ward Price, in the Daily Mail, says: " Nothing less than despair can prevail among Germany's military, naval, and air chiefs when they think how much Hess knows and how much he may tell. As for Hitler, this incredible abandonment of his cause by a man whose fidelity to him was a household word throughout the nation will convulse his hysterical nature. Whom can he trust if Hess has proved untrue?" A Berlin message states that Hitler has abolished the post of Fuhrer's deputy and created a new office for Hess's chief-of-staff. Martin Bormann. His decree states: " The former office of Fuhrer's deputy will henceforth be known as the Party Chancellery. It will be personally responsible to me. The leader will be Martin Bormann." Bormann has been Hess's chief-of-staff since 1933. He is 41 years of age, and was sentenced in March, 1924, to one year's imprisonment for his share in the Bierkeller Putsch.

The United Press reports that the radio in Berlin was heard last night to state that Herr Hess had committed suicide at C p.m. on Saturday at a party. Most German newspapers observed a» marked silence, and none mentioned Hess's arrival in Scotland. Reference was made, however, to the fact that Hess had vanished from Augsberg in an aeroplane against Hitler's orders. A United States radio commentator summed up the situation when he said: " The whole story has come so .much like a bombshell that no one knows just what it means." The British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Halifax, in a speech, said that Hess must have seen the writing on the wall. There was no doubt, ho added, that when the time came the combined sea and air power of the American and British nations would be the decisive factor in the war.