Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-11


GOOSE-STEPPED
A score of stalwarts goose
stepped down the aisle toward
the stage. They were followed
by uniformed men bearing
storm banners. The golden
swastika which topped the
banners glittered under the
lights.
And then a grim-faced,
burly man in civilian clothes
strobe down the aisle. His
chunky right arm was raised
i'm the Hitler salute. Another
column of stalwarts followed
directly behind him
A bell rang. The roar
ceased. A whip-like man. with
military voice. announced
that Captain Goering would
speak on Versailles must die
so Germany may live"
The chunky man stepped
forward, glowering at the au-
dience, his broad muscular
face brilliant under the spot
light. A beautiful blonde girl
presented to the NaZi chief
tain a bouquet Of roses as
large as a wheel.
Captain Goering shifted the
roses, and grinned. Then he
took off his coat and threw 1t
carelessly behind him under
the table. He rolled up his
shirt sleeves and loosened his
belt.
Laughter of approval mixed
with applause. Goering swung
his arms, as if to Timber up.
and the applause rose to a
booming roar.
Captain Goering spoke. His
speech was rude and vigorous.
scornful of politeness, and so
simple that a child of 10 could
have understood him.
EXCITEMENT MOUNTS
What convinced his hearers.
however. were less his words
than the impression of trucu-
lent and brutal personal hon. e
esty which he created. His
voice and his fists pounded
the Treaty of Versailles. He
paced up and down on the
stage, fists clenched, hairy
arms flying. his face stream
ing with sweat.
His voice became a gale OF
menacing sounds. He worked
himself into a blazing fury.
He yelled and growled and
hammered. He grumbled and
pranced in mad outbursts of
wrath.
He attacked everything in
the world from God down 10
pawnbrokers and nudists, ex-
cepting only the army. He un-
-leaShed. a wild surf of hatred.
and sent it laundering into his
audience.
/ was amazed to find the
mass of stolid Germans more
excited than a crowd of Span
iards in a bull ring. l tried TO
be cool, tried to take notes on
what | intended to say after
Captain Goering had finished.
but soon gave it up. The man
fascinated me.
At last Goering ended amid
an earthquake of applause.
He sat down and mopped his
face. He fished his coat from
under the table and wrapped
it carelessly around his shout
derS.
The whip-like man with the
military voice rose and asked
if any representatives OF
enemy parties wished 10 speak
10 minutes each TO refute Cap
tain Goering. who would be
glad to answer all questions
raised.
/ rose and stepped forward,
automatically obeying my
"Parteibefehl." l felt my
scalp shrivel and grow cold.
| handed the whip-like man a
slip of paper. bearing my name
and party affiliation.
GIVEN PLATFORM
The whip-like man an
nounced:
"A representative Of the
Communist Party now has the
word. beg the meeting to
maintain discipline"
| mounted the stage. A
deathly silence descended upon
the great hall. Troopers of
Georing's bodyguard eyed me
curiouSly.
After the first sentence. my
self confidence turned.
There were smokers and cat
calls. but there was also the
frenetic applause of my hun
dred aides in the crowd.
| pointed out that the
Treaty of Versailles was the
consequence of lost war, and
that the war had been pro-
voked by capitalists for inn