Evening star., 1938-02-28
AUSTRIAN TROOPS
BLOCK NAz| COUP
March on Vienna Prevented
as Fresh Forces QueII Up.
rising in Graz.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Approved BY Hitler, Seysz-In-
quart ,Dds named minister OF the
interior in the Austrian oouern-
n,ent. Stvrin Ndsis gained the re-
moral OF Altons Gurbach as
Fatherland Front leader, but
Schuschniog has refused to ap-
point a Nazi to the post. Nasis
are cunning for the remoual OF
Styrtd's governor, Joseph Stephan.
Anti-Nasi Count Stuer0kh is ia.
rored to succeed him, hoWeuer.
By the Associated Press.
GRAZ, Austria, Feb. 28.-An in
cipient Nazi uprising was smothered
today by the alert Austrian Army.
Swift reinforcements OF the Graz
garrison frustrated an enthusiastic
Nazi scheme to seize control of the
city and march on Vienna.
This Syrian metropolis. a hotbed
of Naziism, was turned into an armed
camp as the government forcibly ex-
pressed its determination to MAIN
tain peace and order.
Sixteen tanks rolled into the city
SQuadronS Of Warplanes concentrated
at Thalerhof Airport. ready for instant
takeoff. Artillery was emplaced in
commanding positions and machine
guns covered highways leading into
the city. The infantry garrison was
strengthened.
In the face Of this stern government
move, the Nazis temporarily abandoned
their plans and announced that a
"tWo-day armistice" had been arranged
with the government.
During the "armistice" period, Nazi
leaders said they would negotiate for
more freedom Of action.
Armin Dardieu, one of the NaN
leaders, disclosed that plans had been
made for $4,000 men to start the
march on Vienna from Graz. He
said they were to have been Joined
by 5000 from Leopen, 5000 from Leib-
nitz. 1000 from Liezf and smaller
detachments from villages throughout
the Province Of Styria.
But the governments stern military
threat sluiced cold water on the
at least temporarily.
Police frightened control inside the
city. where Nazi fervor during the
past few days assumed the magnitude
OF community hysteria.
No more than two persons were
permitted to stand together on the
streets. Schools were closed because
authorities heard instructors were
entering classrooms with Hell Hit
Ter" greetings TO pupils.
Police patrols were circulating
through the cafes, silencing the for
bidden Horst Vessel song, a Nazi
Swastika flags were hauled
down.
Nevertheless, Hell Hitler" greetings
were still passed on the streets and
almost every one was wearing Swastika
badges.
Although disorder was prevented by
the governments speedy military
action, the situation remained dan
gefOuS.
The government, at five-minute in
tervals, gave the people radio reports
on developments.
Nazi leaders ordered temporary ces-
sation Of demonstrations during the
two-day "armistice" period.
1t appeared that the Nazis were hop
Ing for some compromise which would
enable them to make q national DEM
Of such proportions that
Vienna, which has not been touched to
any great extent by the waves Of Nazi
sentiment sweeping the provinces,
would be Influenced.
Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, while
not alarmed by the grave situation, In
dicated to Fatherland Front leaders
that he regarded it as serious.
There are difncult times ahead"
he said. I'VE must keep our nerve and
observe rigid discipline"