Austria Has Two Private Armies, One Has Anti-semitic Program

Anti-Semitism-Food by Which Heimwehr Army Is Fed

Though the Republic of Austria is enjoined by the terms of the Peace Treaty against maintaining a large army, two private armies function in the country.

Between the two armies and their leaders, the Heimwehr, financed and influenced by the nationalistic elements; and the Bundschutz, influenced and supported by the Socialists, a danger of conflict is always imminent. In the present stage of development the conflict is being carried on in the press organs of the respective groups.

The laborite organ, “Arbeiter Zeitung,” published today a series of documents concerning the organization and the program of the nationalistic Heimwehr army. These documents, if true, give sufficient cause for Austrian Jews to be alarmed. The leaders of the Heimwehr have officially disavowed their adherence to the anti-Semitic doctrines, but according to the documents published today, anti-Semitism is one of the ingredients that feeds the Heimwehr. Some of its leaders abstain publicly from anti-Semitic activities, because of their eagerness to secure the financial support of Jewish manufacturers and merchants. Other leaders of the same organization publish vehement anti-Jewish articles in the Heimwehr press organs, apparently for the purpose of intimidating the bourgeois Jewish elements and securing more generous support.