Deadline

There was a big black circle round Jan. 30 on every police, every government calendar in Austria last week. Jan. 30 is the first anniversary of Adolf Hitler's accession to power in Germany. All Austria felt that one more Nazi attempt to seize the Vienna Government by force was due, that Jan. 30 was its logical date.

Austrian Nazis grew cockier day by day. Small but noisy bombs were exploded in dozens of cities. Crowds rioted in front of government concentration camps. A mysterious fire broke out in Parliament Building at Vienna, was quickly put out. Bravely the Dollfuss Government fought back. A secret report on Nazi preparations and propaganda was sent to the Governments of France, Italy, Britain, who remained as one in their desire to keep out of a very dangerous business. There was no secret about the note sent Germany demanding a written recognition of Austrian independence and a guarantee of nonintervention. At the end of a week no reply was forthcoming.

Busy indeed was sleek Alfred Frauenfeld, Austrian Nazi leader. On one of the frequent visits of the police Prince von Waldeck und Pyrmont, official of the German Foreign Office, was found in his home. The Wiener Zeitung, official Dollfuss organ, announced that Nazi Frauenfeld's office was receiving from Germany between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 marks monthly for bribes, propaganda and explosives.

Because Nazi suspects had been found in high Heimwehr posts, it seemed likely for a few days that youthful Prince von Starhemberg would be shelved as commander of the Heimwehr in favor of his far more effective subordinate, Vice Chancellor Emil Fey. Prince von Starhemberg saved his job and proved his loyalty to the Dollfuss regime with a blast to his followers attacking Hitlerism:

"There is only one law in the Heimwehr. I command and you obey. . . . Every leader down to the last man must henceforth avenge every Nazi attack. If legal authorities fail to mete out justice, take the law into your own hands."

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