VILLAGE REVOLT
From Our German Correspondent
Conditions in the Saar territory are becoming 'what they are in the rest of Germany. Persecutions of Jews and Catholics are systematically organised. In many parts Hitlerite enthusiasm has become considerably cooler. Prices go up and unemployment is higher than it was before the plebiscite. Saar refugees in France and Switzerland see their ranks increased by people who before January 13 fought on the other side of the barricades.
Dr. Neikes, mayor of Saarbriicken, was one of the pillars of the German front. A few weeks before the vote he went to Berlin as head of a delegation which handed over to Adolf Hitler the document which made him a citizen of honour of the Saar capital.
When the Saar came back to Germany Dr. Neikes was deposed, and had to yield up his well-paid position to an " old lighter of the nazi party, whose chief merit is that he is the brother-in-law of Herr Bilrckel, head of the Saar government.
All Mayors Removed Practically all mayors and officers of cities and villages have been removed. Some of them have been put into gaol Dr. Neikes was threatened and was glad to find hospitality in Switzerland.
Catholic youth associations are not allowed any public activities. Their diocesan director, Fr. Muller, and several other leaders. priests and laymen, are in prison. Nobody is allowed to see them, not even their bishop.
The following has happened in a little Saar village called Spiesen. The nazis accused the curate, Fr. Wall, of being an enemy of the State. He has, so they say, refused absolution to a member of the Hitler youth. It was decided to arrest the priest and five storm-troopers tried to get into the presbytery_ In a few minutes the whole population gathered and gave full expression to its indignation against the nazis who wanted to arrest their priest.
When the nazi mayor of the village arrived in his car a boy spiked its tyres. In face of the threats of the peasants the storm-troopers withdrew. Fr. Wall was, however, arrested a few days later. and with him three other people of Spiesen: the boy who rang the church bells and called out the people, the sexton who did not prevent the boy from ringing the bells, and the 114 who punctured the mayor's tyres. The last has been expelled from his school and will not be allowed to go to any other.