"RED" INCENDIARISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 10

"RED" INCENDIARISTS.

IN N.S.W. COUNTRY TOWNS.

SUSPECTED REPRISALS.

CLASHES WITH NEW GUARD.

(From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY, March 3,

Mysterious fire outbreaks in the country . districts, culminating in a destructive series at Mudgoe, in the middle west of New South Wales, have given point to many isolated suggestions that the firestick of reprisal is being wielded by vindictive Reds.

From time to time during the hottest summer months devastating bush fires that have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage, have been traced by shrewd observers to a combination of small initial outbreaks. Little notice was taken at the time of tho suggestion that originally these fires were deliberately "planted," but in view of seven separate fires at Mudgce in two days detectives have been sent to many country areas with instructions to investigate moro fully outbreaks that in some instances occurred as far back as two months ago.

Tho Mudgee cases are classed by tho polico definitely as reprisals on townspeope who took an active part in ridding tho west of Communism, which was preached openly on tho street corners up to a month or so ago. At that time, all through the country, graziers and protagonists of- sober politics combined in drives which sent known Reds

scurrying back to their dives in the city. At times violence was necessary to convince these preachers of Red doctrines that their presence was unwelcome. They left, but made open boasts that they would repay their persecution in * their own way. Fires at Mudgee. Mudgeo gave them a particularly torrid time. Prominent town tradesmen joined with the other residents in driving thom -from that district, and it is definite that an incendiarist, almost certainly a Red, fired tho storehouse of Jones Bros., carrier, tho timber yards of Kellett and Sons, tho Mudgee butter factory, Lonergau's bulk store and the premises of K. D. Croan, carriers, at the week-end. Hundreds of pounds' worth of damage was done in each ease. Then came fires in tho offices of Davidson and Hickson, and tho destruction of a weatherboard cottage occupied by a townsman of New Guard associations. Apparently as a reprisal against the Mudgeo Town Council, which was definitely anti-Ked, a fire was started in tho Town Hall early on Monday morning. Firemen found burnt, kerosenesoaked rubbish under tho stairway. Sydney detectives are investigating this series without much hope of finding tho culprits. Colour is lent to the theory that vindictive Reds are behind all these fires by the fact that properties razed by bush and grass fires have been, invariably, those owned by graziers who were prominent in the Red drives. New Guard Activities. In Sydney and the suburbs, the New Guard, Colonel Campbell's Fascist organisation, continues its harrying of tho Communists. Last Friday, at Bankstown, where Communism is preached openly from ftlie street corners every night, a squad of guardsmen in 20 cars descended on a big Red meeting, waited for a speaker to make his first disloyal utterance, and then broke up the gathering. Their intervention started a series of small riots which spread so rapidly that the local police were powerless to handle the situation. They had to send for considerable reinforcements before tho fighting, which raged xip and down the main street of the suburb, was subdued.

| Ono guardsman had his eye split open when a stake, flung like a javelin, struck his face. Many car windscreens were smashed and scores of minor injuries wero received before order was restored. Five arrests, including members of the New Guard, were made, and while these prisoners were being taken to the police station the police had to hold off the howling mob which followed with threats of the use of their revolvers. Attitude of the Police. A peculiar feature of the New Guard sorties is that the Commissioner of Police invariably denies the facts so far as they concern the serious nature of the clashes. Apparently this is a policy movo to retain public confidence in the ability of the police to handle the situation. In the meantime special police attend every meeting of New Guard divisions. At times they have to obtain entrance by all manner of means. On Wednesday niglit at a big rally at Epping the situation became ludicrous. Three plain clothes police gained entrance to the meeting, and the proceedings were held up for an hour and a half, during which time officials endeavoured to induce them to leave. This the police refused to do, so the meeting was transferred, leaving the three police in sole occupation of an empty hall, while the New Guard meeting went on elsewhere.