MINERS REPULSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 95, 1 February 1934, Page 5

MINERS REPULSED

KALGOORLIE RIOTS. FOREIGNERS WELL ENTRENCHED DRIVEN OUT WITH BOMBS. . . i SCENES OF DESOLATION. : SECOND DEATH OCCURS. I United Press Association—Copyri£ht). KALGOORLIE, January 31. A second death occurred in connection with the riots when Charles Stokes died as a result of a knife wound in the stomach received this morning. It is impossible to estimate the casualties as a .result of the rioting. Several persons are in hospital with gunshot wounds, and it is quite apparent that the miners have not bad things all their own way. . Tremendous excitement prevails in Kalgoorlie and Boulder. The crowds grouped in the streets discussing the overnight happenings appeal' to expect, fresh outbreaks of violence. The position is intensified by the idleness of the miners who are in the mood for anything on account of the over-in-dulgence in drink on Tuesday night. A mass meeting in the park at Boulder was very noisy. The [Parliamentary, member for the district, Mr C. B. Williams, was unable to make himself heard. Everybody wanted to talk at once and the crowd broke a,way from- tno meeting when a series of explosions was heard in the direction of the foreigners' huts, where a pitched battle was soon in progress. The foreigners had organised in anticipation of an attack, and had made their dispositions with a certain degree of military skill. Entrenched in a drain, they sought to defend themselves with shotguns, rifles, and revolvers, but were finally driven out with jam-tin bombs, road metal and pickets. Then followed the complete destruction of the foreigners' huts. The crack of rifle fire and the sound of the bursting bombs could be plainly heard by people in the background. Daylight revealed a scene of terrible desolation. It was miraculous that many lives were not lost. The funeral to-day of George Jordan, whose death was the immediate cause of the riot, was one of the largest seen. iii Kalgoorlie. The coffin was carried on, a fire .engine preceded by a long double file of firemen and 100 ears.* A survey of the damage in Kalgoorlie disclosed that fifteen shops and cafes in Hannan Street had suffered, in the majority .of them the windows and fittings being irreparably smashed and the stocks looted. At Boulder, two hotels, the foreigners' club-house, three cafes and a boot-makers' shop Avere wholly or partially wrecked and burned. At least fifty foreigners' huts were burned or , razed.

ORDER RESTORED,

THE MINES STILL IDLE. MANY FOREIGNERS LEAVE. KALGOORLIE, January 31. The worst was over by noon to-day when order was definitely restored. Police pickets are everywhere and all the hotels are closed. Many, foreigners are leaving and others have been told to remain out of sight. The mines are still idle. At Kalgoorlie to-day the rioters met their first check from the police, when, after wrecking the foreigners' huts at Dingbat Flat, they returned to Kalgoorlie and entered the boarding-house which they attacked yesterday. They began to set fire to the place, when the police swooped upon them, Used their batons, drove them out and quelled the fire. The rioters gathered on the opposite side of the street, shouting threats, but the police, undaunted, moved the crowds on and soon had complete control of the situation.

POSITION STILL TENSE.

AUTHORITIES TAKE ACTION. FOREIGNERS '/WANDER IN BUSH. (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) PERTH, This Day. Although Kalgoqrlie and Boulder are now quiet, the situation is still tense. The authorities have recalled the District Commandant, Brigadier Martvn,,who had gone on leave. 'One hundred and forty men have been chosen as special constables to act on-.tlie.igoMfields. I Tho Government is concerned not only on -account of the loss of life and the damage to property, but also because of the possibility of international complications. The Commissioner of Police (Mr Douglas) has left for Kalgoorlie by aeroplane. At Boulder, when the men assembled for a. meeting, pamphlets were issued by the Communists. Ear from inciting to riot, they stressed that the foreigners were fellow-workers. The outbreak was due only to long-

smouldering animosities arising out of economic competition and racial prejudice.

Estimates of the damage at- Kalgoorlie and Boulder vary from £50,000 to £70,000.

The Premier stated that the Government was determined to control the situation at all costs. The Italian Consul had an interview with the Premier, but nothing was disclosed.

A large exodus of foreigners continues from Kalgoorlie and Boulder. Hundreds are homeless, with all their possessions lost in the fires. They are wandering in the bush between Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie, fearful of returning.

SOBBING WOMEN. REFUGEES IN PERTH. PERTH, January 31. Twenty Jugoslavs and Greeks reached Perth to-day and told a graphic story of the rioting. They seemed to be dazed by the swift calamity which had overtaken them. Sobbing mothers were met by friends at the railway station and by pitiful gestures indicated their scanty belongings, all that remained of their worldly possessions. They declared that the miners' women had looted their shops and homes after the men had wrecked them.

CONSULAR PROTEST

GOVERNMENT PREPARED

MELBOURNE, January 31

.The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, said that the Government was watching events in the West Australian gotdfields and would co-operate with the State Government, if necessity arose, .in quelling the disturbances. Concerted action would later be taken to deal with the Communistic elehients which were undoubtedly behind them. The Consul for Jugoslavia, M. Marich, has protested against the attacks on his nationals in the goldfields. He declares that the majority are naturalised British. He is appealing for assistance for the homeless _ and starvino- families, who are the innocent victims of the minors' vengeance.