HESS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4430, 26 May 1941, Page 7

HESS

HIS BLACK SHARE. “ Hess’ share in the Nazi blood purge of June, 1934, was black, but there was blacker to come when the Nazis started their drive into other countries ” (writes a correspondent). “ The history of the invasion of Austria, and of Hess’ laying a wreath on the grave of (Dollfuss’ murderer within three days of the German occupation of Vienna, is unpalatable stuff. So is the story of the invasion plan, discovered by Austrian officials in a safe in the Vienna headquarters of the Nazi Party, where written instructions from Hess outlined how the Nazis in Austria were to stir up trouble, threaten to seize public buildings, and aggravate* the Austrian Government to take violent counter measures, so that Germany would have an ‘ excuse ’ for marching over the border. “ When and where the rift with Hitler began is still a secret, though evidence suggests that the cleavage is of recent origin. Has Hess been appalled by some new demoniacal inhumanity planned by the Nazi High Command ? Does he realise the futility of fighting against Britain ? Has he risked his personal safety by giving expression to the thoughts of peace that must be in the heart of every German civilian ? “ Is it even that it is Hitler, and not Hess, who has taken final leave of his senses ? ”