The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-15
Hirnmler Reported To Be No. 1 Nazi Leader
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cords had been affected by an ear inflammation resulting from the bombing.
 Other Reports
 Other reports persisted that Dr. Otto Won Eicken, famed German throat specialist, had operated on Hitler's throat after a dangerous tumor developed. Hitler's throat actually has been troubling him since 1889, the News Chronicle said, quoting Eicken as once saying that the Fuehrer feared throat cancer. Radio Moscow quoted Swedish re- ports that Hitler had been partly paralyzed by a stroke, while the London Daily Express said a rrmor from Southern Germany suggested that there had been another at- tempt on Hitler's life.
 Himmler, home minister and com- mander of the German Home Army in addition to chief of the Gestapo, began gradually to wrest power away from Hitler after the July assassina- tion attempt, King said.
 European dispatches said these steps included:
 1.-SubStitution of "Fatherland" for "F'uehrer" in all international propaganda.
 2.-Formation of Volksturm, or peoples army, for a last-ditch fight on the German homeland with Him. mler as commander.
 3.-Rescinding of law of 1885 for bidding simultaneous membership in Na1 party and German army.
 4.-Orders to Nazi troops in the army to shoot, even before firing on the enemy, any soldier who fails in duty or attempts to surrender.
 5.-Taking over command of the Reich labor service.
 Military Law
 Thus, King said, the whole Ger man people now were under military law and liable to be shot for mili- tary as well as civil offenses.
 Furthermore, neutral correspond ents in Berlin have asserted that the Volksturm can be used against for eign workers in. the event they at tempt to start a revolt, against Ger man workers who might attempt mass flight from bombed areas and even against women spreading hys- terical defeatism as the war ap- breaches their homes.
 King pictured German propa- ganda Minister Paul Joseph Goeb- bels as Himmler's reputy because of his control over the German ra- dio networks and communications system.
 The London Daily sketch said a triumvirate consisting of Himmler, Goebbels and Foreign Minister Joachim Won Ribbentrop had been formed to rule Germany, but ac- knowledged that Himmler was welding most influence.
 'The triumvirate will operate for the present without informing the German people or the world," the Daily Sketch said. Tt rejected suggestions that it included Reichs- marshal Hermann Goering and minor Nazis or any member of the high command in larger council, but placed full responsibility for battle operations in the high com- mand and general staff, freeing the Nazi party of blame for any military failures"
 TOadies to Russia
 Stockholm dispatches quoted a "traveler from Berlin with good ac- cess to inside information" as say ing Himmler was trying desperately to work up some kind of an agree ment with Russia.
 His efforts were described as based on a conviction that Germany could not win two-front war, whereas Hitler chung to a fanatical belief in eventual military victory with the help of "a Divine Providence, the traveller reported.
 Dispatches said Himmler always belonged to the so-called eastern wing" within the Nazi party. group advocating cooperation with Russia. Himmler was said to feel that the Russians would be willing to nego- tiate with any Nazi in the saddle, despite all external evidence from Moscow that the Soviets are com- mitted to an memorable fight to vic- tory.
 A broadcast Berlin dispatch of the TranSocean News Agency re- vealed that the Na1 party had moved again to tighten its hold on the German army.
 Transocean said the German off, cial Gazette had published decree providing that every member of the Wehrmacht be obliged, in service and out, to fact in accordance with the National Socialist Doctrine"
 The decree abolished the mlii- tary law of 1895 under which party members in the Wehrmacht are under no obligation to the party, The permission of military superb ors, however, still is necessary for entry into the party.
 Transocean said the decree had been in force since oct. 1, and was signed by Hitler, Goering, Marshal wilhelm Keitel, Heinrich Hammers. minister without portfolio. and Mar