Evening star., 1938-09-15
Fuehrer Welcomes
. Premier in Rain
at Retreat.
BY the Associated Press.


tOuAy III pTeCeueIll-DTedkluE per-
sonal effort to keep Europe out of war
In the rain Hitler welcomed at the
entrance Of his mountain retreat the
elderly British statesman. who dashed
from London by plane and train to
speak for the British Empire on the
Czechoslovak crisis
Smiling broadly, looking hearty. Mr.
Chamberlain stepped down from a
special train in this picturesque little
Bavarian Alpine town at 4:02 pm
S10:02 am, E. S. T).
His glowing, confident appearance
impaired anything but a gloomy out
look to the tremendous task he faced
in his conference with Hitler.
The rain which had fallen inter-
mittently during the day poured
down as Mr. Chamberlain moved
slowly along the station platform. He
was surrounded by groups of German
officials. S. S. (BlackshirD elite guards
and police.
Despite the downpour. Mr.. Cham
sherlain did not bother to raise the
rolled umbrella he carried over his
arm.
Gaylv he doffed his hat as a crowd
of thousands, mostly under umbrellas,
''heiled" again and again.
DR.. Otto Melssner, chief of the
chancellery, greeted the Prime Min
lister at the station. Accompanying
Mr.. Chamberlain were Joachim von
. Ribbentrop, German foreign minister;
Sir Neville Henderson, British Am
hassador. and Mr.. Chamberlains two
aides from the British foreign office,
Sir Horace John Wilson and William
Strang.
The party wasted no time. AS the
crowd cheered. Hitler's personal car
vhisked Mr.. Chamberlain off to the
Grand Hotel, where he will make mis-
headquarters. Then after brief stop
the party drove the remaining 8 miles
to Hitler's home, Berghof on Ober-
salzberg.
Originally Mr.. Chamberlain had
PLANNED to fly from Munich to
Yreilassing Airfeld, near Berchtes-
gaden, but inclement weather forced
a change in plans, and the party took
train from Munich, where MIR
Chamberlain landed by airplane from
London.
As Mr.. Chamberlain reached Berg
hof. an honor company of Hitler's per-
sonal S. S. bodyguard presented arms.
Before getting down to business,
Der Fuehrer invited the prime min
lister to have tea in the great.hall of
Berghof. The entire Chamberlain
and Hitler encourages participated.
Nazi officials gathered here were
still pleased over the unexpected turn
in the situation as result OF Mr..
Chamberlains dramatic appeal for a
personal audience with Hitler. They
were unwilling, however, even to guess
what proposals Mr.. Chamberlain
might have brought to end the tense
crisis.
Well Stage Managed.
A master stage manager Hitler left
nothing undone to make Mr.. Cham
berlain's drive from the station TO
Berghof noteworthy one. -Four
Mercedes cars were placed at the dis
posal of the British party.
In the first sat Mr. Chamberlain,
Won Ribbentrop and Maj. Schmundt,
chief military adjutant to Hitler The
second was occupied by Henderson
and Meissner, the third by Wilson and
Ernst Won Weiszaecker, state secretary
for foreign affairs. and the fourth by
Doernberg, Hitlers chief of proto-
col
AS Mr. Chamberlain drove up the
steep, super highway to Berghof. he
was said to have praised the beautiful
scenery. He also expressed surprise at
the ease with which the. cars climbed
the steep road. which rises from
Berchtesgaden's 1900 feet to Berghof's
$500 feet.
Greets Guests Cordially.
Der Fuehrer stood in Berghof's
broad door as the cars approached,
then he walked down the spacious
steps and greeted his guests with
cordial handshakes.
During tea Mr. Chamberlain ad-
mired the Alpine view through huge
= window Of the great hall. Hitler. Mr..
Chamberlain and their aides then
got down to arranging the formalities
Of the program for the British delega-
tons stay.
Before his train reached Berchtes-
gaden Mr.. Chamberlain had recovered
from the effects of his fight from
London. his first journey by air.
Mr.. Chamberlain accepted an invi-
tation from Der Fuehrer to dine with
him tonight.
Reached Munich at PM,
Premier Chamberlain arrived at
4. Munich Airport at l pm. (6 am,
T. s. t..
Ending the first airplane trip Of
his SO years, 6l0 miles from Heston
Airport, London, he stepped smilingly
to the ground and shook hands with
Sir Neville.
Sir Neville introduced Won Ribben-
trop and other German officials to the
Prime Minister, who then introduced
his companions on the trip, Sir. Horace
and Mr.. Strane.
Hundreds of persons gave Mr..
Chamberlain a cordial welcome when
his plane landed at Oberwiesenfeld
Airdrome, which was decorated with
swastikas and Union Jacks
After the introductions the party
went by automobile to the Munich
Central Railway Station, with Mr.
Chamberlain in animated conversa-
ton with Won Ribbentrop.