Evening star., 1938-03-01
.HE|MWEHR CHIEFS
REVIVE FORCES
Austria's B|ackshirt Army
Reorganized Against
NaZi Menace,
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
GRAZ, Austria, March 1-Vet-
Grams Of Austria's disbanded Fascist
army, the Heimwehr, decided today to
revive their organization to meet what
they regarded as a Nazi menace to
Austria's independence.
Heimwehr Blackshirt leaders made
their decision in . conference here as
the Austrian Army and police stood by
for instant action after baking plans
Of Nazi Brownshirts for a march on
Vienna.
Austrian Fatherland Front circles
reported meanwhile that Premier Be-
nito Mussolini Of Italy had sent a spe-
cial envoy to Chancellor Kurt Schu-
schnigg with the assurance that Italy,
as in the past. upholds the independ
ence Of Austria.
Count Barthold Stuergkh, former
Helmwehr member and now lieutenant
governor of Styria Province, called the
Heimwehr conference at this provincial
metropolis which has been a hotbed OF
Naziism.
The Fascist leaders met while Nazi
headquarters was in continuous state
Of preparedness for action. Eighty
thousand Nazis were said to be in uni
form, awaiting call to action in the
three provinces of Styria, Carinthia
and Upper Austria.
Plan political Action"
1t was disclosed that the Heimwehr
did not plan immediate revival of mill
tary features of its organization, which
once was the private army Of Prince
Ernst Rudiger Won Starhemberg.
The Blackshirts said they would
confine themselves at present to "ener-
getic political action"
Starhemberg, who still was honey
incoming abroad with his bride, the
former Viennese actress, Nora Gregor,
apparently played no part in the
Heimwehr action.
But IN Vienna, Maj. Emil Fey, for
mer Vienna Heimwehr chieftain, said
Chancellor Schuschnigg had been in
formed Of the Heimwehr plans.
Nazis here. closely watched by police
and soldiers, did not attempt further
demonstrations, but issued q violent
handful declaring the Austrian gov
ernment had had to send troops to
keep order because I'VE have proved
the Syrian executive, police and even
Syrian soldiers are behind U.s."
Schuschnigg's Parliament declara-
ton affirming Austrian independence
last Thursday cooled Nazi hopes Of
union with Germany and precipitated
street demonstrations and plans for
the march on Vienna.
Compromise Effort Seen.
Graz Nazs expected q visit We'd
nesday from the minister of the in
terror, Arthur Seysz-1nquart, q friend
OF Fuehrer Hitler Of Germany. It
was believed the minister would nego-
tiate some sort of compromise between
Nazis and oncials now in q state
Of armed truce. In Vienna there was
no official confirmation that he would
come.
Graz, however, regarded the visit as
certain. Police were uneasy, fearing
Nazi demonstrations for him might
get out Of hand.
In his 10-room Office opposite the
City Hall. Syrian Nazi Leader Armin
Dadieu asserted there would be no Nazi
retreat and said the only question was
whether the movement would be "evo-
lutionary or revolutionary"
Schuschnigg supporters in the
Fatherland Front, the only legal politi-
cal party in Austria, planned demon
strations to onset the Na1 displays.
Fatherland Front leaders said Mus.
solini had given Schuschnigg permis-
sion to announce Italian support for
independence as a trump card when
the moment was considered propitious.