SAAR ISSUE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1935, Page 5

SAAR ISSUE

day of the poll CALM VOTE EXPECTED MAINTENANCE OF ORDER SNOWFALL AIDS TROOPS MAJORITY FOR RETURN By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 11.55 p.m. London, Jan. 13. On the eve of the plebiscite in the Saar there was no serious outbreak of trouble, though brutal attacks on supporters of the status quo continue in isolated regions. Snow has fallen continuously for 24 hours, accompanied by a bitter wind, which is favourable for a quiet poll but adds to the difficulties of the motor-lorries driven by international troops which bring in the ballot boxes from outlying districts. A majority for a return to Germany is everywhere taken for granted, but it is admitted in Germany that unless the majority is overwhelming it will be a rebuff for Herr Hitler, because the real issue in the Saar has become love for Germany against hatred of Herr Hitler. The polling day was ushered in tonight picturesquely with huge bonfires lighting up the snow-covered countryside. At the same time church bells on both sides of the German frontier pealed out. A surprise order was issued to-night, forbidding the publication of any newspaper or the distribution of handbills on the polling day. More surprising still for a Continental country is that the Saar until Wednesday has gone “semi-dry. Only wine and beer may be served, and that may be done only during certain hours. The sale of spirits is forbidden on Sunday. The Daily Express points out that this is probably the most expensive election ever held. The costs include hundreds of special trains from Germany, the expenses of voters from every part of the world, and the heavy campaigning costs, particularly those of the German Front, including 26 Nazi newspapers, which are all run at a loss. The total cost is estimated to be £2 for each vote cast. DECORATION OF HOUSES. The German Front instructed all supporters to decorated their houses with garlands and illuminations on Saturday night so that every German house could be recognised. The opposition countered the move by asking its supporters to do the same. German Front newspapers conciliatorily offer to “pardon” all opponents to the return to Germany who even now join the organisation. The plebiscite result will be announced at 8 o’clock on Tuesday morning, not 8 o’clock at night, as previously stated. The reasons for announcing the result in the morning is to discourage anticipated demonstrations by dissatisfied voters, which naturally would be-more difficult to restrain if they occurred on Monday night, when it was originally intended to proclaim the result. An official announcement will not bei made until 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Nine special trains which brought 10,000 Saarlanders from Germany yesterday were followed to-day by 36 specials bringing the remaining 48,000 voters. No special arrangement has been made to bring 6500 voters residing in France. Pro-German priests, both Catholic and Protestant, arranged special services for Saturday night. A Berlin cable states that It is officially announced that “after the plebiscite, when the Saar has returned to Germany,” Herr Nelstadt Buerckel, Herr Hitler’s commissary for the Saar, will take over. In the transition, it is reiterated, there will be no' discrimination against those well disposed. There will be no terror or concentration camps, only the utmost concern for trfe welfare of the workers. State insurance institutions at Berlin subscribed the Saar relief loan of 3,000,000 marks repayable in ten years, replacing the withdrawals of French credit.

INQUIRY FINDS “NO CASE” CAPT. JUSTICE INCIDENT SAARBRUCKEN VIOLENCE •• Rec. 5.5 p.m. Saarbrucken, Jan. 11. The prosecution of Captain James Justice in connection with the Saar incident of December 16 resulted in a finding of “no case.” Captain Justice, a British special police officer, .after spending an evening at a cafe in civilian clothes with other officers, was driving home at three in the morning accompanied by two friends, including the Earl of Aylesford, when a tyre burst and the car skidded, mounted the pavement and injured a woman, Mrs. Steig, stated a cable on December 16. An angry crowd attacked Captain Juslice and the Earl of Aylesford of whose dentity they were unaware, with sticks ind stones. Captain Justice fired a revolver in self-defence, wounding a man aamed Neumeisterer in the stomach, although not seriously. The victim was sent to hospital. The crowd retaliated, beating and kicking Captain Justice, who was admitted to hospital. Mr. Geoffrey Knox, chairman of the Saar. Governing Commission, officially stated that a car driven by a police officer, in attempting to turn a comer, drove on to the pavement, injuring one person. A crowd assembled and threatened the three passengers, especially the officer who was driving. A free fight followed and several shots were fired. One person was injured. The police officer was injured by blows and admitted to hospital.' The police would investigate and report and a court of inquiry would be held. The aggressor would be dealt with with full severity and without consideration for status. The police officer would be deprived of his rank until the matter was cleared up.