The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-17

sion to discourage Nazi-Amt And it was Captain Wiedemann who descended from an airplane in London, just before the King and Queen left for Paris, to make a secret Anglo German proposal. In the confidential files of the army and navy is a fascinating story of Wiedemann's history. It discloses that during the World War he was a lieutenant in the 18th Bavarian Infantry, in whcih Hitler also served.
 One day while retreating under fire, the debris of crumbling building fell upon one of Wiede- mann's men and buried him. The young lieutenant leaped back and, despite heavy shell fire, pulled the man out.
 HE WAS ADOLF HITLER.
 Later the commanding officer recommended Hitler's promotion to the rank of company sergeant. He had good record, but Wiede- mann demurred.
 He's a dangerous man," Wiedemann is reported to have said. This was 20 years ago.
 The war ended. Capt. Wiede- mann returned to his farm, set- tied down among the landed gen. try, most of them ardent mon- archists.
 Nazi Purge
 Several years passed and the man he had pulled from the war time debris became dictator of Germany, bent upon purging his most potent enemies. One day @ list of those to be purged was placed before him. On the list he saw familiar name.
 Fritz Wiedemann," he asked. "Who is he?"
 Hitler was informed he was a monarchist bent upon overthrow ing the Nazi regime. Hitler or- dered him brought in and an- nounced"You will be my first mili- tary aide".
 Some time later around May 20, 1888 German troops were concentrated around Czechoslovakia, and Goering and GOebbels were demanding an advance upon Prague. High officers who were present ad- vised caution. They said they had not sufficient military sup plies.
 FINALLY, Hitler, exasperated, threw up his hands and ordered them all out of the room that is, all except Wiedemann. He stayed to give a few words of ! counsel. ..-.
 He pointed out that annexa- ton of Czechoslovakia only two months after the Austrian putsch would antagonize world opinion, especially arouse the British.
 If Hitler turned his power full publicity machine loose on CzechOslovakia. on the other hand, and made it appear that the Sudeten Germans were an oppressed people, then by mid- August or September, Wiede- mann advised, the British would have got reconciled to a German CzechosIOvakia, and when the zero hour arrived, would not raise a hand.
 Hitler followed Wiedemann's advice. and gave him part of the job of strengthening out the Bri- tish. That s why he has made two secret and highly important trips to London.
 Deaf, Dumb and Blind
 Navy Department censorship, heavy-handed even in normal times, has exceeded all bounds since the recent spy scare.
 A reporter recently asked the Navy press officer how many anti-aircraft guns of certain type were carried by the 1,350- ton destroyers built several years ago.
 "That is military information we cannot supply" was the snappy answer.
 "Well, can you tell me how many of these guns this class of ship was designed to carry?"
 "No, can't tell you that, either"
 The neWsman departed. A few minutes later he returned and asked the press officer to accom- pany him. He led the officer hundred feet down the corridor and stopped before a public dis play of model of the vessel he had inquired about. It showed four anti-aircraft guns mounted fore and aft.