Evening star., 1939-04-18
German Fleet Sails
For Maneuvers in
Spanish Waters
Hitler Returns to Berlin
For Birthday Ovation
On Thursday
BY the Associated Press.

BERLIN, April 18.-Nazi Ger
many's modern fleet has headed out
to sea from Kiel and Wilhelms-
haven on its way to spring maneu-
vers in Spanish waters, an official
spokesman announced today.
How and when the units left re-
malned naval secret. 1t was dis
closed, however, that units from
kiel had passed through the Kaiser
Wilhelm Canal from the Baltic to
the North Sea and joined other
units either off Wilhelmshaven or
at sea-
More than Is Warcraft were re-
ported engaged in the maneuvers
which will take them to the Strait
OF Gibraltar-now patrolled by
french Warships while Britain's
Mediterranean fleet is concentrated
in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Hitler returned to Berlin by train
as Nazi Germany prepared to give
him a tremendous ovation on his
5Oth birthday anniversary two DAYS
hence. The Reichsfuehrer's return
came after 10 days absence at
Berchtesgaden, Munich and in Aus
tria.
Field Marshal Hermann Goering
also returned to Berlin to participate
IN the Hitler birthday celebration.
Marshal Goering. chief lieutenant
of the Fuehrer, is expected to report
to Hitler on his Rome conversations
with Premier Mussolini and Foreign
Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano.
Rumanian Minister Arrives.
Rumanian Foreign Minister Girl
gore Gafencu arrived early this aft
ernoon and was invited to an ex-
haustive conference with German
Foreign Minister Joachim Won Rib
bentrop before Won Ribbentrop en-
tertained him at dinner tonight
Gafencu will be presented to Hitler
at noon tomorrow.
Rumors that Germany and Poland
had agreed on return of the Free
City OF Danzig to Germany were
termed absolute nonsense by au-
thorltative sources. The Free City
lies within the Polish customs ad-
mlnistration, but nominally is under
League of Nations protection.
1t was explained that the next
few days would be entirely de-
void of any political note, except
for Gafencu's talks with Won Rib
bentrop.
Nothing should interfere with the
hlrfhHQU CNirit - tIy;1l, 81
spokesman said.
There were rumors, too, that COL
Gen. Walther Won Brauchitsch.
chief of staff of the army, might be
named a field marshal on the
Fuehrer's birthday.
Fleet to Visit Tangier.
The Fuehrer yesterday issued a
dramatic call for a special session
OF the Reichstag April % when he
will answer the telegram of Presi-
dent Roosevelt proposing guaran-
teed peace for at least 10 years.
The German fleets spring exer-
clses on the Atlantic Coast of Spain
were described officially as a re-
sumption of an old tradition now
that Gen. Franco has triumphed in
the Spanish civil war.
1t is also contemplated that Ger
man naval units make friendship
call at the Moroccan port of
Tangier.
Meanwhile the front page of the
newspapers continued to be domi-
mated by scornful editorials reject
ing President Roosevelt's appeal
and concerned with the Fuehrer's
decision to answer it before the
Reichstag
The industrialist newspaper
Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung de-
voted two front page columns to an
editorial on the late President Will
sons IA points and what became
OF them" under the dictated peace
of Versailles"
This parallel between Wilson and
Roosevelt was typical of the press
comment.
Big Birthday Parade Planned.
Apart from the anti Roosevelt
campaign the papers gave much
space to preparations for Hitler's
50th birthday on Thursday.
Maps were published of Smile
flag-bedecked and pylon-lined route
where Berliners could gather to see
the Reich's biggest military parade
| in history.