The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-25
THDeath, OurNation Stirs Austrian People
Nazis Bitter at Schuschnigg's Ringing Speech; Popular Feeling of Approval Runs Through
 Entire Country
By ROBERT H. BEST

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Vienna, Feb. 25-(UP)-AuStrian non-Nazis hailed Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg as a national hero to- day and pledged themselves to finish fight against any efforts to violate their country's independ- ence.
 Nazis, restive, suspicious, resent full and somewhat bewildered, were expected to register this weekend, by means of demonstrations-in de- fiance of ban of their own Nazi minister of interior-their protest against the chancellor's vigorous speech to the federal Diet and his ringing, defiant, final words:
 Until death the red-white-red, the banner of our beloved father land, Austria!"
 Newspaper headlines showed plainly the popular feeling. Crammed into the lines of type was jubilance:
 Austria, free and independent" Austria remains free and independ- ent!" "A statesman has Spoken!" "Berchtesgaden: monument to peace!" "Schuschnig2 on German peace" "Now there will be peace"
 Now the country awaited the re- action of it's own NaZis and the Nazis of Germany, reported them selves to have been surprised and annoyed at the firm tone which Schuschnigg took in speech re- garded by non-Nazis of Austria as masterful and historic.
 Schuschnigg had gone on record as determined that Austria's inde- pendence and Christian state foun- dations should be defended to the death.
 It was admitted in view of the speech, that the dangers to be feared had been exaggerated by an overstrung, war-Scared world. Schuschnigg and many persons of the Danubian basin generally had been inclined to believe that Fuehrer Adolf Hitler could be trusted not to use armed force against Austria. Yet an avalanche of rumor had buried this fact.
 In view of the strong nature of SchuSchnigg's speech, however, and plain signs of Nazi resentment, it was realized everywhere that the re- percusionS of the chancellor's ad- dress might be wide Germany has powerful trade weapon as a re- serve in event that Nazis regarded the government here as recalcitrant or uncooperative. Economic difficult ties have been for years a basic weakness in dismembered Austria, a heart without body. This was evil dent in the undertones of Schusch- nigg'S speech yesterday, but he could not speak too plainly because his immediate job was to emphasize his, and the country's diplomatic success at the Berchtesgaden negotiations with Hitler.
 Typical newspaper comment today showed the reaction to the speech:
 Wiener zeitung (ofhcial govern ment gazette)-The speech was equivalent to 8 declaration by the whole people. Austria must remain Austrian.
 Reichpost (strongly and authorita- lively Roman Catholic; pro-govern- ment)-Things are not as pessimists from habit or profession had hu- mored; Austria was neither betrayed nor sold. There was an overWhelm- ing effect as the chancellor in his Speech-to which all nations on earth listened and thus became wit nesSeS to his word-declared in sim pie words that he believed in the word and signature of the German chancellor. The head of the third Reich has the word of the political leader of Austria, just as the Aus trian leader has the Reich chancel- lor'S word. This must be sufficient and 1t must last like steel. Neues Wiener Tagblatt (important organ representing financial and middle class option) -Schuschnigg fought for victory for Austria be- fore the whole world. The firm de- termination of the people to defend their country and freedom still has the most realistic weight in the eyes of the great powers.
 Wiener NeuSte Nachrichten (Pan- German; controlled by German capital German nation echoed confidence in Hitler's speech Sunday. So also will it trust the words of Schuschnigg.
 Neue Freie Press (inclined to sym pathy with Germany as opposed to Italy)-The great speech demon strated to the world that Austria will have the necessary economic basis for its existence.
 Tens of thousands of people cheer ed Schuschnigg as he left parlia- ment last night. Unaccompanied by any guard, even plain clothed de- tectiveS, he tried to drive home. The crowd surged in and stopped his car by mass power, and he left it to march at the head of gigantic informal parade to the gates of the old Imperial palace, where he