These forces are locally believed to have been directed toward the border of Czechoslovakia, although another suggestion is that some have been deflected southward to the Yugoslav frontier.
Yesterday uncountable thousands of men arrived and went by truck, by horse, afoot and by plane. Airplanes of all the latest types landed and picked up soldier passengers fully equipped. Many of the men seemed to be about 35 years old and upward.
The steady stream of military vehicles and troops tied up Linz traffic all day long. There were many light cannon and some heavy artillery and a good many armed motor boats carried on trucks – a form of armament that seems unnecessary for conducting a plebiscite.
At 1 o’clock this morning long lines of cavalry were passing through the streets.
So far as can be gathered, most of the troops swung eastward toward the Moravian border of Czechoslovakia, but another rumor current in Linz is that others are on their way south to the Yugoslav frontier, where they might be extremely useful in protecting Italy from attack there in case that country should be engaged elsewhere.
The affairs of the Austrian general staff were taken over today by the German general staff and General von Bock, German officer commanding all the troops in Austria, welcomed Austrian staff officers into the German army.
It is announced that the main road over Pyrn Pass from Spittal to Lienz in East Tyrol will be closed to all traffic until Sunday – presumably for troop movements. [Lienz, a town in Carinthia, is only a little more than ten miles from the Italian border. Spittal, some thirty-five miles to the east, is also close to the frontier.]
Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels issued a proclamation today saying:
“Germans!
“The Greater German Reich has risen. Seventy-five million Germans are united under the banner of the swastika cross. The longings of all Germans for a thousand years have been fulfilled. All national comrades must listen to the Fuehrer’s speech over the radio.”
Simultaneously, Deputy Gauleiter Artur Goerlitzer issued another proclamation urging all Berliners to line up in the streets through which Hitler will drive on the way to the Reichstag.
“There,” says the proclamation, “you will be able to greet the Fuehrer once again. Your jubilation and your joy shall be renewed thanks for everything the Fuehrer has done for Germany’s world prestige and for the security of the German peace.”
Hitler’s speech will be transmitted, of course, over all German and Austrian radio stations, and preparations are being made for “community receptions” in special halls, restaurants and streets. The speech, which may take two hours, will begin at 8 P. M. [2 P. M. New York time.]
There is no hint, however, of what the speech itself may contain beyond the topic “Austria,” although speculations still proceed along the lines outlined in these dispatches yesterday.
But for the first time in a long time, the Reichstag will not be merely an audience to listen and applaud; it will also be admitted to an actual piece of legislation. The Essener National Zeitung, Field Marshal Hermann Goering’s own organ, declares that the Reichstag will be called upon to adopt a resolution permitting “the Austrian stock to send its representatives of like National socialist persuasion into the Reichstag of United Greater Germany.”
Lest this be misunderstood as an act of parliamentary sovereignty, however, the newspaper hastens to assure that “creative initiative has not been given to this Reichstag because the liberating task has already been completed by the German people united in National Socialism under their Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler.”
Hitler issued today several decrees for Austria’s incorporation into the Reich. They are effective immediately and apparently designed to complete the incorporation before the April 10 plebiscite. The decrees provide as follows:
The German mark is made legal tender in Austria at a ratio of 1.5 schillings for one Reichsmark. The previous exchange rate was 2 schillings to a mark, so the new rate represents a considerable cash subsidy for the Austrians.
The Reich Finance Ministry is authorized to admit Austrian goods to Germany partly or wholly duty free.
The administration of the Austrian National Bank, which is being liquidated, is turned over to the Reichsbank.
The Austrian Federal Railways are turned over to the Reich Railway Administration.
The Four-Year Plan is introduced into Austria – a fact of which Marshal Goering specifically gave notice in a telegram to Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart. Reich Statthalter [Governor] for Austria.
All Reich laws decreed henceforth are effective in Austria as well and the following laws already effective in the Reich are introduced into Austria: the Reich flag law establishing the swastika flag as the national ensign and forbidding Jews to display it; the law forbidding the formation of new parties, and the law for the unity of the State and the party.
At the same time another law apparently puts a Reich supervisor even over Dr. Seyss-Inquart. This supervisor, bearing the title “Reich Commissar for Austria,” will supervise the actual execution of all the before-mentioned measures in Austria under the direction of Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick. According to reliable information the Commissar will be Wilhelm Keppler, Hitler’s former economic adviser.
The suicides, arrests and other tragedies now occurring in Austria naturally are kept out of the German press, although the experienced German reader will know what is happening from the glowing accounts of how “Jews are being cleaned out of Austria.”
But the press is full of the measures taken for Austria’s benefit. Especially stressed are the money donations, the free vacations for Austrian children, the donations for radio sets so that Austrians can hear the Fuehrer, the cheap Strength Through Joy vacations for Austrian worker, the subsidies for students and, most important, the program of public works and unemployment relief, comprising particularly the immediate extension to Austria of the Reich’s motor roads, which proved so valuable in throwing troops into that country.
In short, no bet is overlooked to make Anschluss as palatable as possible to the non-Nazi Austrians, so as to roll up as big a vote at the forthcoming plebiscite as was rolled up in the Saar.
This military buildup should have rung all kinds of alarm bells.