MELEE IN DAMASCUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 85, 11 April 1925, Page 7

MELEE IN DAMASCUS.

BALFOUR IN DANGER. FIGHTS IN THE STREETS. CLASH WITH THE TROOPS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) DAMASCUS, April 10. When the Earl of Balfour arrived in Bamascus on Wednesday a crowd demonstrated outside his hotel. The manager rushed to the Earl's room, closed the shutters, and turned off the lights. The crowds hurled stones at the balcony, one hitting a dragoman. The police forced back the demonstrators from the hotel to a square opposite. There fiery speeches were delivered. Several of the demonstrators were arrested, and quiet was restored by the evening. Numerous police remained in the vicinity of the hotel all night. This morning all was quiet, but the bazaars were closed in anticipation of a large demonstration. The Earl of Balfour remained at his hotel. At the conclusion of prayers in connection with the Ramadan festival, a crowd of 6000 marched in the direction of the hotel. Syrian gendarmes and police who attempted to stop the demonstrators were attacked with stones. A fight ensued, in which the Spahis took part. Two people were killed and seven" gendarmes were injured. One Spain officer and three men were injured. Disturbances also occurred in the Jewish quarter.— (Reuter.) A SYRIAN MOB. TROOPS USE BAYONETS. BALFOUR SAFE AT BEIRUT. (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. A dispatch from Beirut says that Earl Balfour and his party were forced to leave Damascus owing to the continued demonstrations of the Syrian mob. French soldiers were called out to suppress the disorders, and used their Oayonets in dispersing the angry crowd, which stoned them. It is estimated that 40 were injured. The Syrian police escorted Earl Balfour and his party as far as Chorta, while Lebanese gendarmes accompanied them to Beirut. Upon the party's arrival in the latter city they immediately boarded the French steamer, which will sail on April 12. Meanwhile French soldiers are guarding the wharf where the vessel is lying, forbidding anyone aboard. The resentment against Earl Balfour is due to his work of founding a national Jewish Home in Palestine.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)