MORE RIOTOUS SCENES IN LONDON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 15, 28 October 1932, Page 5

MORE RIOTOUS SCENES IN LONDON

SYMPATHISERS WITH THE HUNGER MARCHERS MOUNTED POLICE CHARGE NEAR MARBLE ARCH CONSTABLES GALLOP UP AND DOWN ROTTEN ROW. ORDERLY DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES. (United Press Association—Copyright). {Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. Though the 20,000 people within Hyde Park gave little trouble, riotous scenes marked a conflict between police and 1000 sympathisers with the hunger-marchers around the Marble Arch. Before a mass meeting began an arrest outside the Park incited thousands to surge forward, snarling and hooting, as the van removed the prisoner. Twelve mounted police charged, with staves, while 20 chased the demonstrators into by-streets. Several arrests were made. Drapery shop windows were smashed, but the shuttering prevented looting. Other disturbances were quelled, but as home-going vehicles swelled the traffic, the roadways became chaotic. Police cleared a passage and made further arrests, while the crowd threw mud at stationary police cars. Mounted police dispersed 1000 men threatening special constables, whom the crowd resented as blacklegs. Fugitives rifled a coke car and smashed windows. Other demonstrators boarded lorries, snatched the mops and pipes with which they were laden and menaced the mounted constables. Some waved red flags and shouted "To hell with the National Government! The police galloped up and down Rotten Row, quelling the disturbances. Further arrests were made before the processions broke up. Eight civilians and four police were sent to hospital. \t Glasgow 1000 unemployed demonstrated against the means test, but the police prevented trouble, as was the case with similar displays at Birmingham and Manchester.

TWENTY-THREE CASUALTIES. BROKEN HEADS THE WORST RESULT. ABOUT 15,000 AT HYDE PARK. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. About 15,000 unemployed, including hunger-marchers, gathered at Hyde Park, causing disorganisation of the traffic in the West End streets for several hours. The meetings concentrated in six platforms widely separated. Mr Saklatvala and Mr Tom Mann were among the speakers. The most serious trouble occurred at Marble Arch, where Sir Hugh Trenchard (Commisioner of Metropolitan Police) stationed parties of special constables. The marchers, angry at thenpresence, began a threatening rush toward the specials. There were a num-> ber of ugly episodes, resulting in 23 being injured in the clashes, the sufferers including a policeman who was seriously injured by a bar of iron. In other cases the rioters broke the windows of shops in Oxford Street, using huilding brick's and lumps of coal from an overturned cart. Apart from a few broken heads, the worst'result was the': frightening of women shoppers, who unexpectedly found themselves involved in a riot in which mounted police cleared the streets by walking their horses on the pavements; A number of innocent people were knocked down, necessitating removal by ambulances.

Inside the park further trouble developed in Rotten Row, where a party of angry Communists seized handfuls of mud and gravel which they flung at the mounted police. The latter drew their batons and dispersed the rioters. By 5.15 p.m. all the columns of hunger-strikers had left the park and marched to the suburbs, where they were billeted at the houses of sympathisers. Many were obviously suffering extreme fatigue, and the leaders tried to cheer them up by singing songs. FORTY TREATED IN HOSPITAL. HEAVY RAIN DAMPENS ARDOUR. CQMMUNTST PLANS UPSET. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 27. Forty were treated in the hospitals in connection with the rioting at Hyde Park-. Twelve arrests were made. A heavy downpour of rain in the evening ended the attempts by the Communists to create disorders, damping the ardour of even the most pugnacious. Parliament House was, strongly guarded. Mr McGovern, presenting to the House of Commons a petition in which the hunger-marchers asked fox access to the bar of the House next Tuesday to plead the cause of three millions of unemployed,submitted a motion that the House agree to hear the marchers.