NAZIS HARASSED

Southland Times, Issue 22042, 15 June 1933, Page 7

NAZIS HARASSED

TENSE SITUATION ACTIVITIES IN AUSTRIA HEADQUARTERS SEIZED NUMEROUS ARRESTS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Vienna, June 13. Herr Habicht, who is regarded as Herr Hitler’s chief emissary in Austria, was arrested in an apartment at Linz after a violent struggle. The arrests of German Nazis now total 80. Another dynamite outrage occurred in Vienna, several shops being damaged. The Chancellor, Dr. Dolfuss, is returning to Vienna from London tomorrow owing to the Austrian crisis. The police have occupied all the Nazi headquarters throughout the country. Cabinet has appointed commissars with plenary powers in Vienna and the provincial centres who will be responsible to the Government regarding security. The Ministers issued proclamations forbidding the army and police to take membership in the Nazis owing to the latter’s alleged treasonable and illegal methods. Seven thousand police are concentrated in Vienna with machine-guns covering the chief buildings in readiness to deal with any disturbances. The police raided Herr Hitler’s birthplace at Braunau, the local Brown House, and arrested the Nazi leader. The public doubts official denials that Dr. Dolfuss has requested Britain and the other Powers to intervene in the Austro-German conflict. It is officially stated that the German Government reserves its action against Austria in connection with the latters’ refusal to release Herr Habicht. EMERGENCY MEASURES PROVINCIAL DICTATORS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) Vienna, June 13. The police throughout the country closed 170 Nazi Brown Houses, questioned 300 Nazis and arrested 400, of whom 40 are German citizens. Cabinet has appointed nine special security commissioners, mostly generals and colonels, who will be virtual dictators in their respective provinces, empowered to deal with any emergency. The Vienna correspondent of The Times says that Habicht has begun a hunger strike. GERMAN REPRISAL AUSTRIAN DIPLOMAT ARRESTED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.25 a.m.) Berlin, June 14. Dr. Erkin Wasserbaeck, chief of the Press Department of the Austrian Legation, has been arrested as a reprisal for Habicht’s arrest. A detachment of secret police knocked •at Dr. Wasserbaeck’s flat at two o’clock in the morning and told him they had Captain Goering’s order to arrest him. Dr. Wasserbaeck refused to open the door until he telephoned Dr. Dolfuss, the Austrian Chancellor, in London. Dr. Dolfuss advised him only to yield to force. He then opened the door. Herr Tauschitz, the Austrian' Minister, has lodged a vigorous protest against Dr. Wasserbaeck’s arrest. Dr. Dolfuss communicated with Baron von Newrath in London, stating that the arrest was a violation of diplomatic rights. EXPELLED FROM GERMANY. (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) Berlin, June 14. Dr. Wasserbaeck has been released and expelled from Germany.