Evening star., 1934-08-05


beIlion In Austria has only begun,
Konstantine Kammerhofer, generals
sinao Of the defeated Nazi forces. told
me this afternoon at his headquarters
in a Yugoslav town where he is sur
rounded by his staff planning his next
move.
Approximately 1000 Nazi fighters,
remnants Of the force which for a
time held sections Of Styria and Carin-
thia. at present are interned in fugi-
tives' camps, but the leaders, who
crossed the border with them, still are
footloose.
Like STAFF Headquarters.
Getting through to Kammerhofer's
hideout was difficult, but once there l
was surprised to see it functioning like
a general staff headquarters as plans
were made to renew the fight for
German Austria's freedom"
Young NaZis we're tipping orders for
dispatching TO unrevealed destinations,
and the generahSsimo himself was sur
rounded by subordinate leaders. one of
whom had been an officer in the Aus
trian army until July IS, the day the
Nazi revolt broke out.
It was hot, and Kammerhofer,
stocdly built blond Teuton with a
muscular chest, was at ease, his soft
blue shirt open at the neck and his
well creased gray trousers supported
by suspenderS.
He looked as though he had come
from tennis rather than a revolution.
I'VE are not finished" he began
explosively.
"The fight for German Austria'S
freedom will go on.
True, our military resistance has
been temporarily broken.
Scores RepriSals.
"True, the Schuschnigg government
(the government of Chancellor Kurt
Schuschnigg of Austria) now wreaks
vengeance on our families and follow
ers at home, conflscates our property
and robs us of our bank accounts.
But the fight goes on and where
there are no men left the women and
children will continue fighting.
"Schuschnigg's government has no
more chance Of surviving than its pre-
deceSSorS.
This is no mere party struggle"
Kammerhofer continued, pacing up
and down the room, "it is a struggle
OF the German Austrian people
against foreign domination-against
the Italian masters. You ought to
know what that means"
"You Americans know what that
kind of a fight is about, don't you"
he asked, punctuating his emphasis
with quick strides. "Dollfuss is dead
Jet us say no more about him than
that his death was inevitable.
But who is Schushnigg, his success
sor? Schuschnigg is not Austria
Schuschnigg is Italy. He was even
born in Italy.
Says Foes Are Foreign.
"And the private armies of Schusch-
nigg and Prince Won Starhemberg are
foreign legion in foreign pay.
"Are we to be ruled by Italians or
by Germans? That is the question?
Are we to be governed from Rome or
at home?
What If the Schuschnigg govern
ment adopts conciliatory policy
offers amnesty to political offenders
and attempts to heal the wounds of
the left and right opposition? asked.
HAS it not good chance of sue
ceeding?"
"NeVer!" shouted Kammerhofer.
with this government there can be
no peace. There are men enough in
Austria who have clean hands and
who have regulations for patriotism
and integrity.
ANY one of them would have some
chance of achieving reconciliation and
internal peace"
The blue eyes flashed as he con-
tinued:
But these Italians in Vienna
agents of Rome. No, hundred times,
mol"
His voice became hard and bitter.
II can best explain to you, an
American" he said, "how we German
AuStrians feel about Schuschnigg if 1
remind you that your country re-
Gently was terrorized by a man named
Dillinger. Well, the government which
tyrannizes German Austria now is
Dillinger multiplied by 1910 Dill
ingers let loose upon a liberty loving
people"
The bitterness and defiance of
Kammerhofer were characteristic of
the feeling among fugitive NaAs in
this border region, but there also
was occasional evidence of discourage
ment, despair and even panic.
1t was in the latter mood that I
found group Of subordinate leaders.
BY a queer coincidence I reached
them half an hour after they had
heard a rumor that Chancellor Hitler
Of Germany had been assaSsinated.
Before I could get beyond identi-
flying myself as an American cor
respondent they startled me with the
tense question: "Is it true that the
Fuehrer is dead?"
Rumors Found False.
I broke of the conversation i'm
mediately and dashed to q telephone
to contact Berlin.
A few minutes later returned with
the news that apparently they had
been made the victims of a hoax, as
neither Hitler nor any one else of
prominence had died in Germany
! today.
I thought it was a good joke and
! laughed, but later one Naz drew me
aside.
Thanks for exploding that rumor,"
| he said in a matter-of-fa voice.
Some of us were about to commit
suicide"
|. Astonished, asked: ''You are not
seeing things that black, are you?"
The fugitive rebel shrugged his
shoulders. He did not smile.
I'VE risked everything, including
our lives" he said. I'VE suffered a
crushing military defeat, many men
were killed, and now suddenly we
heard that the Fuehrer was dead.
Wasn't that enough reason for shoot
! ing oneselfpn