Evening star., 1937-07-04

| " Olu WOIlu pOllClCdl CIeeOS.
4 In the Little World War of
Spain the favorite tunes Of Fascism
and of the proletariat are claiming a
monopoly Of the air.
On the side OF rebel Gen. Franco
the bands strike up not only the
Kings Hymn" but also the CLOWN
ezza" Of Mussolini and the Horst
Vessel Song Of Hitler. On the side
of the government, the Catalonian and
Basque national songs share honors
with the 'Internationale" OF the
MARKHAM parties.
Great was the excitement in Ger
many the other day when an under
ground" Communist broadcasting sta
tion finished its program with the song
OF proletarian unity The secret
police, the Gestapo, got after the cul-
prits, and a few days later the boot
legged song was blotted from the air
through the playing of the official
Fascist anthem.
In certain European countries it is
a criminal offense even to listen to
the wrong national or international
anthem. Numerous Germans have
been sent to prison because they tuned
in on Moscow's rendering Of prole-
tartan music. Austrian Nazis and
Czechoslovakia's Nazi sympathizers
have often been detected because of
their affection for the Hitlerites
anthem
Driven Far Afield.
Followers of forbidden political
creeds are therefore driven to relieving
their sentiments in secluded spots.
Mountains and forests are the audi
ences of dangerous songs" On the
peak of Hafelekar, just outside Of
Austrias Innsbruck, Nazis indulge in
forbidden anthems, defying the police
to reach their Alpine perches
Political changes in Europe are in
dicated by new fashions in anthems.
In France the stirring "Marseillaise"
no longer occupies unquie position
At the mass demonstrations OF the
progressive parties it has to compete
for honors with the International"
and La Jeune GArde" In Austria
swing back to the monarchy is evi-
denced by the increasing popularity OF
the Hapsburg anthem "Gott Erhalte
Unser'n Kaiser" In Ireland the new
spirit that Is represented by Presi-
dent Eamon de Valera would irrev-
ocably do away with God Save the
King"
In the two leading Fascist coun-
tries, party anthems are gradually dis
placing the national ones. Until four
years ago the Horst Vessel Song"
was merely the official song of the
Hitler party Today it is one Of the
two national anthems. It's author
ship is ascribed to Horst Vessel. a
young Nazi, allegedly killed by politi-
cal opponents in 1880. Before Hit
ler's coming to power, anti-Nazis had
asserted that the composer was killed
in drunken brawl.
Challenges Red Front"
The anthem is defiant challenge
to the Red Front" of the radicals
and the reaction OF conservatives,
and it proclaims the NaZis' determina-
ton to make themselves masters of
Germanys streets. The storm troops
Of Hitler. the S. A., are described in
the opening lines as being on their
way to victory:
The flags high, the ranks tightly closed,
S. A. marches with stolid pace.
Germany's pre- war an t h m i,
Deutschland. Deutschland Ueber Al
les," still retains its oficial position.
In foreign countries it used to be con-
sidered an unpleasantly aggressive an
them because Of its emphasis on ex-
treme nationalistic sentiments: Ger
many, Germany Above ALL"
Mussolinjs coming to power has
introduced new singing habits In Italy.
It is no longer the snappy "Garibaldi's