Evening star., 1935-01-13
EUROPE IS TENSE
AS SAAR BALLOTS
Threat of Disorders Mini
mized by Leaders-Ger.
many Is Confident.

many Is Confident.
Continued From First Page)
scattered parts of the globe-Europe
and Asia, Africa and the Americas
and Nazis paid the passage for most
of them.
Lines Sharply Drawn.
Because the vituperative,. often vio-
lent campaign that has ragged In the
area for weeks has sharply drawn
the line between Communism and
Nazism, however, some observers be-
lieved the anti-Nazis tomorrow might
poll more votes than expected.
Welded into one common front
against Hitlerism and Naziism are
such sometime mutually hostile ele-
ments as Communists, Socialists and
part of the basins Overwhelmingly
Catholic population.
The Communists and Socialists see
in the vote their last stand against
Europes relationships. and the ballot
ing will provide the supreme test be-
tween their forces and those Of
NaZiiSm.
For the world, too, the vote has
significance in that it will be the first
time Hitler and his doctrines have
been tested in the fire of an absolutely
free election.
Should the German cause poll 30
per cent of the votes, leaders of the
(Nazi) German front have said the
overwhelming Endorsement given Hit.
ler in last August's Nazi-controlled
German election would be strikinSly
vindicated. A lesser majority for the
Nazis. observers believe, would indicate
strong anti-Nazi sentiment in the
basin, since many Of the regions pre-
dominantly German population are
expected to vote for reunion with Ger
many even though they do not ap-
prove of Hitler.
Polls to Open Early.
The polls open at $50 am. tomor-
row (2:30 am, E. 8. IT,, with the
Saar's rich coal mines and all the
country around blanketed in the
seasons first snow.
A holiday spirit prevailed tonight,
despite Saarlanders' taut nerves. as
patriotic Germans lighted up their
houses with candles, paper lanterns
and electric lights, strung evergreen
garlands everywhere, set bonfires
along the German border ablaze and
decorated their homes with Christmas
trees.
In anticipation of the celebration
the Nazis are certain will follow the
announcement Of the plebiscite re-
suits Tuesday, many in the Saar today
were purchasing swastika flags.
All in the my territory thought Of
nothing else beside the morrow's
election and heated arguments con-
tinued well into the night. This was
true from Saarbruecken, the capital,
to the tiniest village.
Wild Rumors Af1oat.
The widest blood-and- thunder
rumors were circulated, meanwhile, as
both sides put in the final licks in
their campaigns of propaganda.
Newspapers, which for weeks have
been little more than party propa-
ganda, sheets, appeared with burning
headlines.
The Freiheit, of which Max Braun,
Socialist leader and head of the anti
NaN common front. is editor, coldly
announced that Nazis were preparing
to kill every Saarlander who votes
for the status quo.
Earlier Jewish residents of the
basin, who make up only one-half of
per cent Of the population, said
they had been advised to go to Ger
many tonight and return next week
after the voting, having their pass
vote.
The advice" the Jews charged
came from the Nazis, who intimated
that they might escape reprisals after
the plebiscite if they took the advice.
Arguments of the contending fac
tions were we'll summed up in the
statements of two party leaders.
Opposed to Hitler.
Those few persons who have not
been persuaded to join the German
'front.' said Jacob Pirro, Nazi leader.
ARE men of our own blood inf1u-
enced by false prophets not to prevent
but only to postpone a return OF the
Saar territory to Germany"
I'VE are all Germans and we want
eventually to return to Germany"
said the Socialist Braun. But we are
determined that the Saar shall not
60 to Hitler. There Is q difference
between Germany and Hitler"
In huge red headlines the Social
ist organ Volkstimme, which Braun
also edits, today announced that Hit
Ter had been in a sanitarium since
January l, with the exception Of a
brief visit to Berlin q week ago for
the meeting of Nazi leaders.
Hitler" the newspaper said,
through his envoy, Joachim Won Rib
bertrop, has agreed to let the terri
tory go status quo rather than per-
NIT the League to divide the basin"
(Under the Interpretation placed
on the treaty articles providing for
the plebiscite, the League of Nations
Council is empowered to divide the
territory at its discretion If any part
or parts Of It vote, against Germany
THAT is why" the Socialist news
paper said, Hitler has not sent a
single message to the Saarlanders
since the campaign opened"
Nazis Make Last Appeal.
Nazis, meanwhile, f1ied their last
minute guns through their organ, the
Abendblatt.