Evening star., 1925-05-12
H|NDENbURG TAKES
OATH AS PRESIDENT
IN CALM INAUGURAL
Brief Shout by Communists
in Protest Only Mar to
Ceremony.
LAUDS ARMY AND NAVY
AS NEW COMMANDER
Deutschland Uber Allies" Is Sung
by Thousands When Rites
Are Over.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, May 12.-Field Marshal
Won Hindenburg was inaugurated
President of Germany today.
Except for q brief shout of protest
from the Communists, the inaugura-
tion was carried out according TO
schedule. the field marshal being
sworn into office by Reichstag Presi-
dent Paul Loebe before a crowded
house.
Oath is Taken.
President Won Hindenburg in taking
the oath, preceded the prescribed text
! with the name of the Deity, saying:
In the name Of the Almighty, ALI
knowing God, l swear to devote all
my energies to the welfare of the Ger
man people. to increase their pros
perity, to protect them from injury, to
preserve the constitution and laws of
the commonwealth. to perform my
/ duties conscientiously and TO deal just
! ly with ALL"
| To this he added the religious af-
! firmation 80 help me God" thereby
! setting new precedent for German
! Presidents.
Manifesto to People.
In manifesto to the German people
/ this afternoon President Won Hinden-
| burg said:
True to, the oath, 1 will devote all
| my energies to guarding the consti-
! tuition and laws. Let us strive through
| honest, peaceful work TO gain the rec
| ognition of other nations to which we
! age entitled, and to free the German
name from the unjust stain which
I still lies on it today"
J The President added that his Office
! did not belong TO one clan, one re
! hgiouS persuasion or one party alone,
but TO the people in its entirety"
Takes Over Army and Navy
! President Won Hindenburg, after his
! inauguration. issued a manifesto 10
the army and navy. In it he said:
. To the wehrmacht defensive pow
! err: The German people have placed
me at the head of the reich. Accord
ing to the constitution. L take over
this day the chief command Of the
wehrmacht. l greet the army and
navy with pride.
From my seclusion in Hanover"
continued the President, Il have
watched the development of the
wehrmacht. Straight ahead and un-
deferred, il has led the German people
on the only road upon which recon
struction was possible, namely. through
hard discipline and loyalty in every
detail to accomplishment and success.
/ 1T is built upon the old principle
| of duty and sacrifice. Its activity is
| intended, for the present and the fu-
ture, for the service of the people and
| the state, true to its symbol and the
tasks imposed by the constitution.
! With answering faith, they rely
upon the German wehrmacht in my
work for the fatherland's peace and
prosperity"
! Left Palace at 11:45.
The President elect left the chan
cellor's palace, where he had spent
the night, at about 11:45 am. for the
/ Reichstag Building. where the inaugu-
/ raj ceremony was held.
/ His route lay through the Wilhelm
strasse and Inter den Linden, by way
of the central arch of the Branden-
burg gate, which was formerly re
/ served for the Emperor and through
which also President Ebert's funeral
/ procession passed. to the short street
connecting with the Reichstag Build
ing.
This street was recently named
Friedrich Ebert strasse in honor of
! the late President, and the govern
ment announcements of the official
program today for the first time des-
ignated il as such.
! At the door of the Reichstag Build
ing Won Hindenburg was greeted by
the Vice Presidents and the admin
! trative director, who conducted him
to the waiting Herr Loebe. The mar
BILE steps leading to the chamber were
decorated with deep blue hydrangeas,
the new Presidents favorite flower,
with laurel trees on either side.
AT noon Won Hindenburg, accom-
panied by Loebe, entered the chamber,
which was bare of decorations except
around the Presidents table. Behind
the Presidents chair hung a huge
tapestry bearing the German coat-of-
arms, which was incased in laurel
wreaths interviewer with the Repub-
lican colors of black. red and gold.
The President table, at which Won
Hindenburg stood while being sworn
in to office, was covered with a large
Republican flag and was fanked on
either side by hydrangeas.
Communists Shout.
Down with monarchism; long live
the Soviet republic was the shout
raised by the Communist deputies as
the preSident-elect entered the Reich
stag chamber. They withdrew imme-
diately afterward and the rest of the
ceremony proceeded without a hitch.
Inc inauguration look place IN the
presence of the members of the
Reichstag, whose Socialist members
wore red carnations. Many of the
other Republican members wore the
Republican colors. The entire diplo-
matte corps, headed by Mgr. Pacelli
the papal nuncio, and including Lord
D'Cabernon, British Amba ssador: NJ
de Margerie, French Ambassador
and the American charge d'affaires,
also was present, and the galleries
were packed.
Even Gen. Ludendorff, war com
patriot of Field Marshal Won Hinden-
burg. in charge of Germany's military
affairs, was in his place as a Reich
stag member-the first time he has
been present since the new Reichstag
assembled.
Responds to Welcome.
The President elect, in excellent
voice, was heard throughout the
large chamber. He began his re-
sponse to the welcome extended by
Paul Loebe, president of the Reich
stag, by addressing Herr Loebe as
Herr Reich President" instead of
Herr Reichstag President
Herr Loebe had addressed the field
marshal briefly. expressing the hope
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