WILD FIGHT BY STUDENTS.

Auckland Star, Issue 291, 9 December 1925, Page 10

WILD FIGHT BY STUDENTS.

20,000 EGGS, SOOT AND FISH. 'VARSITY DAMAGE. No fewer than 20,000 eggs of questionable quality, several tons of peasemeal and flour, over-ripe fruit in great quantity, cods' heads •by . the hundred, and soot in great volume. Such was the "ammunition" stated to have been accumulated by Glasgow University students in preparation for the biggest rectorial battle of recent years, and a glance at the field of combat fronting the main entrance to the University the morning after the fight, gave the impression that the estimate was a modest one. • The election resulted: — Austen Chamberlain (U.) 1242 G. K. Chesterton (Lib.) 968 Sidney Webb (Lab.) 285 For fierce fighting in the traditional scramble for the polling station entrance it would be hard to find a parallel. The campaign, which had lasted two weeks, was brought to a close with social gatherings in each camp. In the Union the - Unionist forces harboured their warriors overnight; and there they bivouacked and breakfasted before the conflict. The Liberals established themselves in a city smokeroom, and slept in their fighting kit. Labour had their concentration camp in a city hall. - Supply Columns at Night. All were not asleep, however, as during darkness the supply columns were conveying the "ammunition" from over a dozen secret dumps in the city to the scene of action. Motor lorries were requisitioned, and the missiles established under strong guard at Gilmore Hill. Several students had spent the night in the clock tower and their political colour was not disclosed until about nine o'clock, when the singing of the Tory battle-song betokened the advance of the "Blue" army. The Unionists garbed themselves in boiler suits, while some wore a protective mask, presumably to counter the effects of the pre-revolution "Russian" eggs collected by the Labourists. At 9.30 a cry of "Here they come!" announced the arrival of the first rivals to contest the Unionists for possession of the doorway. Eggs burst and spattered on the faces of the attackers, who responded with a mixture of spent carbide and ocre. The front of the building dripped yellow from countless yolks, and the fighters appeared in the guise of "medicine men" from darkest Africa. Detached couples rolled on the ground in fierce combat, and several students were seen to leave the mob and lie down on the absolutely "all-in." Yolk-covered Turf. When the full force of the first attack had spent itself the Unionists still "held the fort," but reinforcements to the "Whites" temporarily gained for Mr. Sidney Webb's Supporters a footing in the doorway. A truce was declared, the Labourites being allowed to hold the doorway. The turf was covered with a slimy mixture, in which soot predominated. Fish and all sorts of garbage added tojhe awful stench, which made the pathway to the gate a thin* to be shunned. ° When a Liberal motor lorry conveying "ammunition" arrived in front or the _ University there was a stampede of bmomsts to gain possession, and two students were injured. The wheel of the lorry pased over the toes of one of the men, but he was only slightly bruised. David Ross, aged 20, was badly crushed, however, an d was'taken to the Western Infirmary Damage was done to property by missiles, and hi particular the* Queen Marbrokc " SeVeral large wind <™s