NAZI EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN HESS’S FLIGHT

Southland Times, Issue 24437, 17 May 1941, Page 7

NAZI EFFORTS TO EXPLAIN HESS’S FLIGHT

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. The German Propaganda Ministry is trying to wriggle out of the difficulties it has made for itself as a result of the flight of Herr Rudolf Hess, the Deputy-Fuhrer, by trying to dismiss the whole affair from the minds of the German people. It now says that Hess’s flight was a personal tragedy and Hess did not act from dishonourable motives. The people have been threatened with severe penalties for listening in to foreign broadcasts.

Berlin officials have told foreign newspapermen that the Luftwaffe is preparing for the biggest raid yet made on London as a proof that Hitler does not share Hess’s idea about coming to peace terms with England. However, all neutral correspondents report ever increasing perplexity and bewilderment among the German population over the flight. This has been accentuated by the many contradictory explanations circulated from Berlin. The allegation that Hess might have been given drugs to make him talk is taken as an indication that the Wilhelmstrasse knows that Hess is normal, although other Berlin authorities stick to the story that he is mentally unbalanced.