Blumenkrieg

The Austrian Legislature has voted to give the measure full affect today.

Reports that Germany's 8th Army of the Wehrmacht had no need to fire a single bullet have been confirmed. Austrians have generally celebrated the arrival of the German Army. It is being hailed as the Blumenkreig, or, the War of Flowers.

The representatives of the Holy See in Austria have had a more difficult time with this upheaval. Yesterday, March 12th, Cardinal Innitzer said "The Viennese Catholics should thank the Lord for the bloodless way this great political change has occurred, and they should pray for a great future for Austria. Needless to say, everyone should obey the orders of the new institutions." Many other Austrian bishops followed suit.

Vatican Radio was quick to respond with Cardinal Pacelli, the Vatican Secretary of State, commanded Innitzer report to Rome immediately. Reports have it that he may have to sign a statement retracting his previous statement. If so, the other bishops will have to no doubt, do the same.

So far, response from France and Great Britain has been moderate. Both France and Great Britain have filed protests against Germany's actions. These are little more than formalities. France has ignored many of Hitler's violations of the Treaty of Versailles. He has thus far exceeded the quota of 100 planes established in the treaty. A zone extending 50 km east of the Rhine River was specified in the Treaty to be demilitarized. There are to be no installations on this side of the river. On the western side of the same river, Allied troops were to remain in a zone for 15 years. Hitler has moved 3 battalions into this Demilitarized Zone in 1936.

In the United States, an article in the New York Times likened this event to Scotland and England joining centuries before.