Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-07-30
Letters to The Star
Gives Different View of Austria
Resisting Hitler

In your issue of July rs Dr.. Robert
RE tried to justify Russian handling of
Austrian affairs, especially the seizure of
Austrian industries and other assets. At
the end of this letter he stated that
Austria broke down in 1888 without
fight, without single shot"
DR.. RE apparently forgets the heroic
resistance which Austria put up against
Naziism from 1888 when Hitler took over
in Germany until the Anschluss in 1888,
during full Ave years when all other
countries in the world did business with
Hitler and tried to appease him. At
that time Hitler, infuriated by this un-
expected resistance, did everything pos
sible to break Austria. He ordered his
gangsters to throw bombs and destroy
bridges and dams, he let them murder
Dollfuss, and he tried to strange Aus
TRAN economics, based largely on tourist
traffic, by asking a payment of RIM 1000
(about $500 at the then prevailing rate
of exchangel from every German citi-
zen travelling to or through Austria.
Only after five years of this struggle,
without support by any other country,
Austria succumbed to Hitler's threats of
military action.
There were other countries, too, which
had to surrender to Hitler without any
actual bloodshed. May I ask DR.. Rte
what battle occurred when Hitler in
vaded Czechoslovakia and how many
shots were fired on that occasion? At
least we did not see Chancellor Schusch-
nigg's picture in the papers smilingly
shaking hands with the usurper after
the conquest as this infamous Czech
generalissimo did.
AS to the so-called German assets.
they are mostly property owned by Aus
TRAN citizens of Jewish faith or descent
confiscated by the Nazis after the in
vasion. Some of the original owners
still live, mostly in exile. Most of them,
however, persisted in concentration
camps. The big industrial plants and
banks among this property now will be
socialized according to the new law
just made by the Austrian Parliament.
The rest should be given back to their
original owners or handed over to chart
table organizations, II these owners and
their heirs have persisted. But there
certainly Is no Russian title whatever to
these assets
DR.. Rie's mention of the "volkssturm'
is very naive. Austrians had simply no
other choice than to obey orders or be
shot. Some, however, were able to
escape into the Austrian underground
which made heroic efforts In the Tyrol
and the mountains of Syria and Carin-
thia to sabotage the Nazi war effort.
The greater part of the Austrian popu-
lation remained faithful to the old re-
gime and many of the others who first
accepted Naziism as brfnger of work
and jobs to thousands OF jobless saw
pretty soon what it really meant and
changed their minds very thoroughly.
AS DR.. Rie's article is apt to hurt
Austria's good name in time when she
really needs every support possible, l
would appreciate 1t very much II you
would kindly rectify the impression made
by his lines. ERNEST BROWN.
Veteran Disillusioned by Waiting
To the Editor of The Star;
I am veteran. About nine months
ago I made a 500 deposit on the pur-
chase of a new car. Delivery was prom
ised as approximately this past June l
know car production has not been up to
expectation, but what gripes me is that
the dealer will not give me any informa-
ton about my place on the waiting list
He merely states that people who were
promised cars in April and May are still
waiting and that his records are private
He, however. would sell me a car that
is five years old for more money than
the cost of new car. With a smile on
his face he offered to return my 500
and cancel my order. If accept that. I
am worse off because it would mean
going elsewhere and being placed at
the bottom of the list.
believe. that the authorities should
require all dealers who have waiting
lists for scarce commodities to keep
public record open for scrutiny, so that
the people who are waiting the longest
will get delivery in the proper order
The advertisements of the automobile
dealers In the newspapers, such as Sell
us your car so we can help the return
ing veteran" are Joke. have yet to
meet veteran who received any special
consideration from any sort of dealer.
AS veteran, think can speak for
the veterans, when I say that we don't
want any special consideration, but we
don't want to be exploited. All we want
is fair treatment and fair value. It is
little enough to expect. II we can't get
that, the American people aren't worth
nghting for. p. G.
Wants Eastern Bridge Also
To the Editor Of The Star:
Everybody concurs in the need for a
double bridge leach 4-lane) in place
OF the present single span at Fourteenth
street. The present bridge over the
Potomac at this point Is inadequate
for the volume of traffic involved. I
am sure that all commuters are glad
hof hAs