The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-05
Crises Are Stepping Stones. On Hitler'S Path To Power
BY PAUL ROSS NEA Service Stan Correspondent

NEA Service Stan Correspondent
 Adolf Hitler today stands on Q neiQht of power achieved by few-if nny--other men before him. Ills slightest action brings international repercussions. His merest utterance Is studied down to the last syllable bv apprehensive statesmen. The heads of powerful nations fly to meet him at his suggestion.
 Though the immediate danger Of war seems to be past, word from Adolf Hitler could plunge the world into the most frightful strife in its history.
 HOW did the one-time house. painter maneuver himself into this position?
 Leader of malcontent group since 1920; co-leader of the abor- tive and comical but prophetic 1923 "beer hall" putsch in Munich; advocate of a program which prom ised all things to all men such as abolition of capitalism to the work CTS and retention of capitalism to the capitalists; hypnotic orator; stooge for some of Germany's most powerful bankers and industrialists Adolf Hitler was finally called by President von Hindenburg to take power on January 30, 1883. With In 60 days, he transformed his legal Chancellorship into a dictatorship.
 The day after he became Chan cellor, Hitler dissolved the Reich stag and set March 5 as the date for @ new election. At the strategic moment-February 27 - the Reich stag building suddenly burned down. Although a half-witted Dutch Con- munist was later beheaded for this crime, there is widely-held Suspi- cion that Nazis set the blaze going. Tn any event, it provided Hitler with the excuse he needed. The following day he obtained from von Hinden- burg Q decree abolishing freedom of speech, press and assembly, pri- vacy of mail and telegraph. Death became the penalty for various poli- tical offenses. The day after, the re- publican flag was abolished by de- cree.
 Next, Hitler's storm troopers arrested his political opponents by the thousands and either eXe- cuted them or put them in con- centration camps. Those who could, escaped.
 With the opposition leaderless, the NaA party swept the elections and brought in rubber-stamp Reichstag. Eighteen days later this Reichstag gave Hitler dicta- torial power and voted itself and the democratic form of government out of existence. Persecution of the Jews had been organized on a na- tional basis in the meantime. Later the Socialist and Communist par ties were banned.
 Among the first moves of Hitler in the international field was with drawal of Germany from the League of Nations and the 1893 disarma- ment conference, both on October 14. Four days later Hitler demand cd the right to arm the Third Reich and to build forts like Frances.
 On June IA, 1884, Hitler laid the foundations for the Rome Berlin axis" by comforting with Benito MusDOlini in Rome. That same day, he announced moratorium on Ger man payments of war debts. Two weeks later, on the 30th, armed squads of faithful Nazis slew scores lNF AftNAR Ma aRio xxttNa sAfa tsaa. to revolt against Hitler. Also shot were Q couple of generals in the Ger man Army which had been resist ing Hitler secretly.
 Ou August 2, Paul Won Hinden- burg died and the last obstacle for Hitler was thus removed. He made himself President, as well as Chan cellor.
 Hitler's first international victory came on January 13, 1895, when the Saar region, long separated from Germany by the Versailles Treaty, voted heavily to return to the Reich under e plebiscite authorized by the Treaty. Having used the Treaty to his advantage, Hitler then denounc- ed universal military conscription. France and England did nothing.
 Almost a year later, on March T, 1886, Hitler violated the Locarno Treaty by marching his new army into the de-militarized Rhineland. Again, France and England did nothing. In the meantime, on June 18, 1885, England signed an agree ment with Germany permitting the latter to build Q navy.
 On January 13, 1897, Hermann Wilhelm Goering made a trip to Rome to consult with Mussolini. The Rome Berlin axis" was publicly an- nounced. There were subsequent meetings between Hitler and Musso- Hni.
 Tn the early weeks of 1888. Aus tria was in such a state of turmoil that it was apparent things were coming to a head. On the 18th of HA ' TEnD