The Washington times., 1925-05-12
HI n D ENBURG
To STAND BY
REPUBLIC
New President of Germany
Takes Oath-"Reds" Dis
turb Inauguration
BY S. D. WEYER,
International NeXya Service.


BERLIN, May 12.-Field Mar
shall Paul Won Hindenburg, taking
office as president of Germany
today, solemnly proclaimed his
allegiance to the constitution of
the Republic and dedicated his
efforts to the whole German
nation in its bitter economic
struggle.
In his first mention of the Re-
public since a plurality of nearly
a million named him it's leader,
the veteran warrior in unmistak-
able terms pledged his loyalty
to the ideals of popular SOW
ereignty.
Reds" Raise Rumpus.
Minor communist disorders marred
his initial appearance in the reich
stag to take the Presidential oath.
There were shouts of Down with
the capitalists! Long live the world
revolution from the left wing.
Three cheers for Hindenburg"
was the nationalist bloc's response.
When Hindenburg began his
speech, the communist deputies
rose and left the chamber.
But as the old general, his face
pale with apparent sincerity, sol
emnly voiced his allegiance to the
republic and to the cause of the
people, shouts of Bravo" broke
from the reichstag and at the con-
clusion of his address the whole
assemblage tumultuously Joined in
three cheers.
When Hindenburg began his
speech communist deputies left the
Reichstag.
In taking the oath, Hindenburg
spoke with vigor, distinctly and
slowly, as if anxious that all the
world should hear every word. The
constitution does not make it
mandatory to swear "by God" but
Hindenburg prefaced his declara.
ton with that phrase, for he is a
deeply religious man.
II have just taken the oath as
| President according to the repub-
lican constitution of August !
1919" continued Hindenburg "The
Reichstag and the Reich's president
belong together; both were elected
directly by the German people. On
this common basis alone do they
derive their authority and power
Only when working together do
they form an Incorporation of the
peoples sovereignty, which Is the
basis Of our whole presnt constitu-
! tional life.
THAT is a deep sense of the con
stitution which l have just solennly
| pledged myself by my word as a
man."
A touch of war bitterness crept
In when he said:
My first greeting is to all those
working in the hard economic strug-
gle to free the German name from
an undeserved blot"
Speaks to Army and Navy
He issued a separate proclama,
ton to the German army and navy.
saying both belonged to the entire
state and the entire nation.
The president was dressed in a
frock coat, top hat and gray
trousers His face was slightly
pale and his expression grave. He
gave rhe appearance to onlookers
as that Of a man Of calm dignity.
The old soldier appeared tired
when the ceremonies were COM
pleted. From the Reichstag he
walked to the west portal to review
the Reichswehr troops and motor
ing from the Reichstag, then was
officially received at Wilhelmstrasse
palace by President ad interim
Simons.
Then driving slowly between
squadrons of the Prussian lancers
President Hindenburg approached
for the first time since his election
his future home, the presidential!
palace.
Sing Old Anthem.
Thousands Of handkerchiefs and
uplifted hands made white back
ground for the fluttering pennons
of his honor guard. AS he alighted
from his automobile he seemed
weary, but stood with raised hat
while the crowd broke out in the
strains Of Deutschland Uber
Allies"
At the conclusion Of the first
verse President Hindenburg entered
the house The crowd sang the
anthem through to the end. Then
the lancers again dipped their pen
mons. swung into column of fOurs,
and marched away.
Extraordinary precaution was
taken by thousands of police during
the night to circumvent any overt
act by communists. The Reichstag
was minutely searched from under
pinning to dome and every nook
and Granny where a bomb might
he secreted was examined.
Inauguration day was bright and
cheerful.
All official Wilheimstrasse build