GERMANY IN MOURNING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18467, 4 August 1934, Page 5

GERMANY IN MOURNING

THE DEAD PRESIDENT HITLER’S NEW POWERS NEWSPAPERS SILENCED (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Aug. 4, 11 a.m.) BERLIN, Aug. 8. Thousands from all parts of Germany paid a last tribute to Marshal von Hindenburg, who is lying in state at Noudeck. The ex-Crown Prince placed a wreath on the death bed on behalf of th ' ex-Kaiser. •The’ President’s body, dressed in his field marshal’s uniform, lias been eneofiined for the journey to Tannenberg on Monday, along a 25-mile route lined by torch-bearing Storm Guards and Storm Troops. Only men will be admitted to the funeral service.

All horse racing and similar public gatherings have been cancelled until after the funeral. ’All the churches were crowded in the evening .when memorial services were held. The wireless stations throughout the day broadcast funeral music, interspersed with the obituary proclamation. At a meeting of the Cabinet, Herr Hitler ’said: “We must not forget that without our lamented President, the present Government, would never have come into being.” In order to ensure that 40,000,000 electors answer “Yes” to the plebiscite, “Do you support a law making Herr Hitler Reich leader,” Dr. Goebbels is planning a whirlwind 15-day campaign, including 200,000 loud speakers through which Nazi speeches will be daily broadcast. It is intended to round up laggards on polling day to get a 100 per cent vote. Dr. Goebbols is confident that it will be 100 per cent pro-Hitler. The political significance of merging the Chancellorship and the Presidency is almost unnoticed, so intense is the public mourning for “Old Paul,” as Marshal von Hindenburg was affectionately called. The newspapers arc not allowed to comment, because the Nazi authorities recognise that the merging of the offices is a breach of the German constitution.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT CRUEL STROKE OF FATE c> GOOD INFLUENCE LOST ‘ " ' LONDON, Aug. 3. After the radio announcement of Marshal von Hindenburg’s death, the British Broadcasting Corporation orchestra played “Deutschland Über Alles. ” Sir Horace Rumbold, cx-Am-bassador at Berlin, then broadcast a glowing tribute, after which a short pause was observed. The Times, in a leader, extols Marshal von Hindenburg's military virtue, but nevertheless declares that his dismissal of Dr. Bruoning, who was undefeated in the Reichstag, placed upon him a heavy responsibility for the subsequent deterioration of public life. “A’noble figurehead,” it adds, “may sometimes be sanctioned, though not approved, but Hindenburg still remained the soldier and the patriot who fought for Germany before she was an Empire, and served her with equal faithfulness when the Imperial forms passed away.” The Times says it is a cruel stroke of fate for Germany that President Hindenburg’s steadying influence should bo removed when he is more than ever needed.

The Daily Telegraph says: “The ■coming winter may well be critical. Herr Hitler, by concentrating control in his own hands, makes himself the focus of dissatisfaction should there be a failure.” The Manchester Guardian’s Paris correspondent says that the public received the news of Marshal von Hindenburg'’s death with indifference, because the legend of the “Grand Old Man” whom the French once admired had- been destroyed during the past 18 months.

Lo Temps refers to “liis betrayal of 18,000,000 Germans who elected him President, and his brilliant violation of the constitution since February, 1933.” The News-Chronicle’s Berlin correspondent says that Herr Hitler’s action in appointing himself President, while remaining Chancellor, has aroused surprise, dismay and resentment. The Cabinet decree confers powers upon him exceeding those of Signor Mussolini, M. Stalin or any Eastern potentate. They even include the final decision between peace and war.

PROBLEMS FOR HITLER COMMENT IN FRANCE PARIS, Aug. 3. High political circles express the opinion that Herr Hitler’s assumption of the dual role has not strengthened his position. On'the contrary, it is believed he has lost the Hindonburg screen and buttress at tho moment when lie needs them most.

INEVITABLE STEP HITLER’S APPOINTMENT ROME, Aug. 3. Herr Hitler’s solf-appointment is no surprise, It is felt that the difficulties confronting him are so great that some such step was inevitable. It is recognised that he must proceed with caution, especially in his foreign, policy, because he no longer has Marshal von Hindonburg’s prestige behind him. JAPAN’S CONDOLENCES TOKIO, Aug. 3. The Emperor sent a message of condolence in reference to the death of President Hindonburg.