SHORT AND SHARP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 282, 28 November 1925, Page 10

SHORT AND SHARP.

POLICE V. RIOTERS. BATTLE ON THE PERSIC. BATONS TOO POTENT. (From Our Special Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 2.1. More than 20 seamen, said to have been drunk and riotous, came into sharp conflict with the Sydney police on Saturday, to the former's ill content. While tbe seamen had only one policeman to handle, it looked as "though a dangerous riot would develop, but when three or four extra constables were summoned, and commenced to make play with tlieir batons, the fighting desire seems to have left the rioters very suddenly. About 25 seamen from the Persic, whioh was moored in at Miller's Point, left their vessel in the afternoon of Saturday, and went into the city, spending the time in the hotels. About 0 o'clock, ripe for mischief,' they left the hotels and made back towards the ship.

It is stated that .while they were making back to the Persic, they were accosted by a representative of the striking seamen, who prevailed upon them to take him back aboard the ship. But Avhen they were attempting to board the vessel the watchman refused .to allow . the stranger on the wharf.

The watchman sent for a constable, on duty near the wharf, and he parleyed with the seamen. The latter were drunkcnly adamant, bowever,. and they rushed the vessel in a body, using some vile language en route. "

Another constable had ■ come on the scene, and reinforcements, in the persons of a sergeant and a constable, also put in an appearance. Their arrival on tho wharf Was a signal for the' men on board to commence bombardment of the police. They used loaves of bread, -pans, half bricks, iron stanchions, pieces of, wood —in fact, anything on which ''they could lay their hands.

It was when four of the bolder spirits decided on a sortie down' the gangway to the wharf that the police stepped in-and quelled the trouble. When the. four rioters hit the wharf, the police hit them, hard, and as others came to their mates' assistance they were hit, too. So often, in fact, that they soon gave up the combat and retreated to their bunks.

The police made four arrests, and the men arrested were taken to' the, statioiji and charged with disorderly conduct". There was no further trouble* on the Persic. The vessel left*on Sunday for Newcastle, the master'of the ship.bailing out his four men to help man the A'essel.