Evening star., 1938-07-03
By Mary.Carter Roberts.

York: Frederick A. Stokes Co.
THIS intensely dramatic book is
written by the former editor Of the
Vienna Telegraph. journal of such
anti-NaN policies that. when the
Brown Shirts took possession of the
government of Austria, the editor and
the proprietor deemed flight the only
possible course before them. Herr
Lennhoff remained at his post until
the last vestige of hope for Austrian
independence was lost. The Nazis,
indeed, were entering the newspaper
offices by the front door when he de-
parted by the back. The present ac-
count is of the hours preceding this
fight. with an adequate description
Of the political changes in the country
which led up to the Nazi coup.
1t is, as said, highly dramatic read
ing. But, in essence, it is no more
took over a small weak one without
troubling itself over the weak ones
wishes in the matter Such events have
taken place in the past history of the
world and no doubt will take place in
the future; they are no more than the
immemorable record of conquest. But
in spite of the heart-sickeningly rou-
tine nature of the bare facts in this
case, the story is completely absorbing.
Herr Lennhoff has done what many
fine writer's have done before him.
That is. he has taken an old, conven-
tional plot and put the breath OF tragic
life into it.
For he contrives to make his read
ers weep with his unhappy country
He makes the story of Austria's an
initiation the story of all idealism
overcome by force. OF all freedom set
in chains, of all brilliant and beautiful
protagonists beaten down by dull
mechanical fSA. Alas that the stuff
Of great drama should so commonly
be this tale! What commentary 1t
is on mems habits that the noblest
form of writing should almost in
variably have this theme.
THIS, of course, may seem to be
lamentably non-polltical manner
in which to view the Austrian col
LAPSE. But it is one which Herr Lenn-
hoff's book irresistibly suggests. To be
sure, he is wholly concrete himself He
does not generalize, he does not editori-
alize. He simply tells what he saw
happen. in his position of editor OF an
important paper, with all the sources
of information before him which that
position carried. But his book. none
the less, has the rise and fall OF a
Well-planned tragedy in its movement.
It begins with the plebiscite called
by former Chancellor Schuschnigg to
determine the sentiment of the Aus
trian people as to independence from
the German Reich. 1t recounts the
labors of the author and his asso-
ciates to forward this vote-taking, IT
tells of their Joyful certainty OF the
outcome. They were, it seems. pcsi-
tive that, if the voting could be car
ried out peaceably, there would be
At least a two-thirds majority IN favor
of an independent country. Their
only fear was that the well organized
NaM propaganda corps might create
disturbances which would give Ger
many an excuse to intervene. In
foreseeing this possibility. the sup
porters of Austrian independence
fondly imagined that they had dis
cerned the worst which might be ex-
pected Of Germany and apparently
had no doubts either that Hitier's
government would abide without pro-
test by the plebiscite results.
Theirs was the essentially civilized
viewpoint. founded on respect for the
electorate and determination tr avoid
force at any cost Curiously. such
state of mind has existed throughout
all recorded history, side py side With
brutality and tyranny. Looked at in
that way, civilization may be said to
have survived among us. rather than
have developed. 1t has always ex-
listed. as far as written accounts can
tell us. but its existence has been in
the minds Of individuals rather than
in regimes or systems. Austria. ap-
parently, has been since the wsr a
country in which individualism has
f1ourished There was among its
people, by Herr Lennhotf statement.
a profound disposition to retain that
privilege At the same time. as Is
the tragic case with individualisss
generally. there was no ability to de-
fend themselves
The thing which happened Is. of
course. history. As Herr Lennhoff
tells 1t. the plebiscite was progressing
we'll. with such enthusiasm on the part
Of the independence party that the
NaN demonstrations were greatly
overbalanced And all was optimism
with the leaders For himself he ad-
mits that there was q cloud in his
mind and that was advice which he
had received as to Mussolini's atti-
tude toward the voting. The Duce,
less innocent than Chancellor
schuschnigg. or less ignorant OF what
might be expected of a really compe-
tent dictator, had warned that Aus
tria must not risk an open vote On in
dependence. The inference behind
the warning was that Mussolini for
saw that Hitler would not allow a
victory for the anti-Nazis, but would
Intervene before such an eventuality
could occur.
Notwithstanding, the Austrians
streamed happily to the polls, and
made sport Of the Nazi demonstrators
BY aping their cries and gestures.
The plebiscite seemed to be taking
the turn Of national holiday. The
Austrians were enjoying themselves
And then, of course. the storm broke
The German radio began to send
but reports OF riots and Communist
uprisings in Austria. Germans, it de-
clared. were being maltreated through
out the country. The plebiscite was
only mask for a Communist COUP
And so on. until the ultimatum was
delivered to the chancellor demanding
that the voting be indefinitely post
poned and that a government meeting
Hitlers approval be appointed within
an hour German troops were reported
on the march for the frontier. There