AN ECHO OF 1914

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 63, 19 March 1935, Page 3

AN ECHO OF 1914

Bayonets Gleam GREAT WAR CELEBRATIONS HITLER TAKES THE SALUTE By Telegraph—Copyright—Press As. BERLIN, March 17. Though to-day already had been allotted to a parade of the armed might of Germany in commemoration of the war dead, Herr Hitler’s declaration enhanced the significance of the occasion. The clatter of hoofs and the tramp of feet re-echoed in the streets ,and sunshine glittered on hundreds of swords and thousands of bayonets as troops lined the thoroughfare leading to the Opera House, the scene of the opening ceremony, which was preceded by Herr Hitler taking the salute during a march past. The British, French and Italian Ambassadors were present. The American Ambassador was present, also the South African and Austrian Ministers and British air and military attaches.

The curtain rose to disclose a stage filled with Reichswehr stand-ard-bearers and a huge Iron Cross depicted on a black cloth. Herr von Blomberg declared that Germany entered the war with a clean shield which was still untarnished. Death had sown the seed of a new Germany on the battlefields. She again offered her hand to her former enemies. Conscription afforded a basis of safety and a reconstituted army as a school for the nation, enabling it to bear arms in defence of the Reich. The world war was a catastrophe and repetition of it must be spared. Europe was too small for a second battlefield. A new world war with modern weapons would be self-destruction. Germany did not need revenge because during the war of four years they harvested enough glory for centuries. ( At the conclusion of the speech the assembly adjourned to a square before the old castle, from the balcony of which the Kaiser had addressed troops marching to war. Today a huge banner of red, white and black floated above, while in front were armed Reichswehr and Nazi police. Massed bands played “Deutschland Über Alles," while seventy standard-bearers marched up to enable Herr Hitler, General Goering and others to decorate the regimental colours with crosses of honour. A field battery fired a salute of 24 guns, setting a flock of pigeons circ-

ling overhead. Generals and Ministers, preceded by a six-foot laurel wreath, marched from the square past motorised forces with machine-guns and paid a tribute at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior. A floral cross was placed at the English cemetery at Berlin, where 1172 Empire service-men are buried. Herr Hitler flew to Munich in the

afternoon. Wireless stations this evening broadcast a continuous programme of

military marches and soldiers’ songs. The “Tageblatt” says: This is not the moment to speculate on the effect of the decision on the world, but the phraseology will make an impression of all men of goodwill and tend to remove distrust. The joy among

us is not connected with militaristic enthusiasm; it is rather an expression of the satisfaction of a just man to whom is restored his rights. . A hundred pastors in Berlin and the provinces, including Bishop Roerricht, Bishop Niemoller’s colleague, were arrested last night because they purposed reading to-day from theii pulpits an anti-paganist proclamation. Bishop Niemoller did not appear in the pulpit, but it is understood that he has not been arrested. A member of the congregation in a Steel Helmet uniform read a prayer and the congregation quietly dispersed.

Thousands cheered when Herr Hitler’s pamphlets were distributed urging citizens to demonstrate approval of conscription. The streets reverberated for four hours to the goosestep of Bavaria’s entire military formation. Herr Hitler led the festival in a motor car and citizens lined five miles of streets. -Infantry, cavalry and artillery followed Der Fuehner. General Goering’s flying corps, which for the first time appeared in full military regalia with fixed bayonets.