HELD TO BE SANE

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

HELD TO BE SANE

EXAMINATION OF HESS ! REMOVED TO UNDISCLOSED DESTINATION HOW HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER London, May 13. It is disclosed that Herr Rudolf Hess lias been removed from a Glasgow hospital to an unspecified destination. Medical men who examined him have declared that he is sane. (Reced. 8.55 p.m.) London, May 13. Hess has been identified beyond all possible doubt. Germany’s story that he is insane is denied. AU the circumstances indicate sanity, which is further confirmed by his conversations with responsible authorities in Glasgow. A medical examination showed heart and other ailments, for which Hess brought his own medicine from Germany, indicating a carefully-planned flight. Rumours are circulating in London that Hess brought peace proposals, but not with Hitler’s backing. It is suggested that there is cleavage in the German Cabinet, with Hess representing one faction. Hess’ flight must have tremendous repercussions in Germany, where he was not only powerful, but immensely popular. Berlin's attempt to anticipate the news by alleging mental disorders does not hold water. Made Important Speeches. The Daily Telegraph says that Hess was considered sufficiently sane to make one of the principal speeches at Hitler's birthday celeorations as recently as April 2. Hess’ last public address was at the Messerschmitt aeroplane factory, Augsburg, on May 1, when he paid tribute to German industrial leaders and workers.

There is every reason for concluding that the flight was deliberate, says the Press Association, and, significantly, Hess chose an aeroplane which did not have enough petrol to take him back. It requires all one's faculties to fly a fast fighter, and hallucinations are not associated with piloting such a machine. The possession of photographs for identity purposes also indicate that Pless knew what he was doing and where he was going. It will not require much imagination to picture the tremendous problems and embarrassment now besetting the Nazi hierarchy, with so close a confidant of Hitler as Hess in Britain. If the assumption that the flight was deliberate is correct, and it fits all the known facts, then, says the Press Association, it indicates a grave crack in the Nazi regime. There is no reference anywhere to Hess having a companion. There is also some mystery concerning the point of departure. If it was Augsourg the flight to Scotland would be over "00 miles beyond the reported range of a Messerschmitt 110.

Hess landed on the Duke of Hamilton’s estate at Strathaven, Lanarkshire. A ploughman, Mr. David McLean, found Hess lying injured in a field and assisted him to the house, where he talked to Mr. McLean's mother and sisters for nearly an hour until taken away by officials. Grabbed a Hayfork. “I was in the house,” said Mr. McLean, “when 1 heard a plane roaring overhead. Then I heard a crash and saw the plane aflame in the field 200 yards away. I grabbed a hayfork and hurried to the scene. I saw a man lying in the field with a parachute nearby. He smiled as I assisted him to his feet, and thanked me. I could see he was injured in a foot and so helped him to the house. Word was immediately sent to the authorities. The airman told us he left Germany four hours previously and landed because nightfall was approaching. "He said he was unable to find a suitable landing ground, so stalled the machine over open country ami jumped out. "I could see from the way he spoke he was a man of culture. His English was very clear and he understood all we said to him. He wore a magnificent flying suit, a gold watch and gold identity bracelet. He did not discuss the journey and seemed most confident he would be well treated. His only anxiety was for the parachute, saying ‘I should like to keep it, for I think I owe my life to it.’ “He would not tell us who he was. Wc assumed he was just another German airman. When officials arrived he smiled and held out his arms and the same time assuring them he was unarmed.” Despair in Germany? The news of Hess’ desertion was broadcast to Germany and Italy in the early morning and will be repeated at frequent intervals throughout (the day. Hess sat beside Hitler on May 4 at the Reichstag session. Mr. Ward Price, in the Daily Mail, says: “Nothing less than despair can prevail among the German military, naval and air chiefs when they think how much Hess knows and how much he may tell. As for Hitler, this incredible abandonment of his cause by a man whose fidelity to him was a national by-word, will convulse his hysterical nature. Whom can he trust if Hess has proved untrue?"

The Deutschlandsender wireless station announced that Herr Hess took off in a plane whilst mentally unsound, and was presumed to have crashed. Deutschlandsender made the announcement in these words: “The party authorities state that Party Member He's, who had been expressly forbidden by the Fuhrer to use an aeroplane because of a disease which has been progressive for years, has. in contradiction to this order, been able to get hold of a plane recently. Hess started on Saturday. May 10, at about 6 o'clock in the evening on a flight from Augsburg (35 miles from Munich) from which he has not returned up to now. “A letter which he left behind,” went on Deutschlandsender, “unfortunately showed, in its confusion, traces of mental disturbances which

justify the fear that Hess was the victim of hallucinations. “The Fuhrer at once ordered the arrest of the adjutants ol Hess, who alone knew of his flignt, ana wiio, in contradiction to t'-’.e Fuhrer's ban, of which they were awuie, did not preveuc the flight nor ' eport it at once. “The National Socialist movement has, unfortunately, under these circumstances, to assume that Party Comrade Hess crashed, or met witli some other accident.” The facts that the deputy, who was spec'f.lly chosen by Hitler, should be suffering from “a disease which has been progressive for years,” that he should be watched by his ‘ adjutants," and that he should justify the fear that he was a "victim of hallucinations,” seems to throw a lurid light on the Nazi regime, even, as one commentator phrased it, “to the presumption that Hess’ hallucination might have taken the form that Germany could net win the war.” “Saw Writing on Wail?” Speaking at Kansas, Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, said: “Perhaps Herr Hess has seen the writing on the wall.”