‘CAUTIOUS’ HESS FLEES GERMANY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 111, 14 May 1941, Page 5

‘CAUTIOUS’ HESS FLEES GERMANY

LANDS IN SCOTLAND DEPUTY LEADER OF THE NAZI PARTY PARACHUTE DESCENT UPON ENEMY SOIL “RAVING MAD,” SAYS BERLIN London, May 12. The sensational announcement that Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy and right-hand man. landed in Scotland by plane on Saturday night, was made to-day from No. 10 Downing Street. He made a solo flight across the North Sea, and in making a parachute descent near Glasgow broke an ankle. He carried with him photographs and papers which placed his identity beyond all doubt, and he was also identified by British officials who knew him well before the wa r. The reason behind Hess’ Hight from Germany is still cloaked in mystery, but the story to be revealed may well rival an Oppenheim “thriller.” It is significant that the German radio, apparently then without knowledge of Hess’ whereabouts, at first merely stated that he was missing. Later it was said that he took off in a plane from Augsburg at ti p.m. on Saturday in defiance of Hitler’s orders that he was at no time to fly. Subsequently the Berlin radio declared that Hess had committed suicide at a party at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. A further radio announcement was even more significant for two reasons: The fact that the Nazis hail no knowledge of Hess’ whereabouts, and a declaration that he had been forbidden to fly because of his mental state. It was declared that a letter he left behind, by its confused construction, justified the opinion that he was suffering from hallucinations. Hess’ adjutants, who apparently knew he was making flights contrary to Hitler’s Orders have been arrested

naiv iiucii aiivdliu. In London it is stated that a flight across the North Sea from Germany to Scotland, requiring navigational ability and skill of a trained pilot, was not the action of a mentally deficient person.