GREAT PARADE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20785, 21 April 1939, Page 7

GREAT PARADE

HERR HITLER’S BIRTHDAY ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS KING’S CONGRATULATIONS United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 20 The King telegraphed congratulations to Herr Hitler on his birthday. BERLIN, April 20 Hundreds of thousands of people, equipped with blankets and food, i llocked after midnight to vantage j points to witness the city's greatest parade of 55,000 troops. An additional 50,000 lined the route. Twenty thousand official guests who had been accommodated on stands at the saluting base, were forced to sit for seven hours without smoking, in deference to Herr Hitler being a non-smoker. Every flag in the city was hung out, the British Embassy in the Wilhelmstrasse being the only bare facade. Herr Hitler rose at 6 a.m., when he was serenaded by the Black Guards, who carried in masses of flowers from the children at the gates. Almost every room in the Chancellery was packed with presents, which arrived in lorry-loads. Herr Hitler at 9 a.m. received diplomats and German leaders, and received the Freedom of Danzig. Followed by Military Chiefs Wearing a Storm Trooper's uniform Herr Hitler drove up the troop-lined East way Highway, followed not by the usual squad of Black Guards but by Field-Marshal Goering and chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. For four hours he stood at the saluting base, while every branch of the armed forces goose-stepped past. Two hundred of the heaviest tanks rumbled in a noisy climax. Herr Hitler sprang a surprise for foreign observers by including a parade of six new anti-aircraft guns, believed to be the largest in the world, being at least of 5.4 calibre. CELEBRATIONS IN BERLIN RECEPTION TO NAZI LEADERS BRITAIN NOT REPRESENTED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) BERLIN, April 20 Herr Hitler opened his 50th birthday celebrations to-day by receiving Nazi leaders, followed by old warriors of the >party, who are wearers of the coveted Blood Order. Later, in the front seat of a touring car, the Fuehrer journeyed four miles from the Chancellery to the limit of the new “axis" motor-road through Berlin, where a brief ceremony was held. Cheering crowds lined the route. Britain and France were not represented among the official delegations irom many countries, but Lord Brocket and Major-General Fuller were private guests of the Fuehrer. NATIONAL SERVICE COMPULSORY MOBILISATION ADVOCATED BY POLITICIANS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 19 Forty-five members of Parliament, supporters of the Government, have put their names to a motion tabled in the House of Commons in favour of the immediate acceptance of the principle of compulsory mobilisation of the man, munition and money power of the nation. MYSTERY SUBMARINES OFF HALIFAX HARBOUR NAVAL PATRIO'L ORDERED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received April 21, 11.45 a.m.) OTTAWA, April 20 The Minister of Defence has ordered naval patrols off Halifax harbour, after persistent reports of a mystery submarine or submarines in the vicinity.