RIVAL FACTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 214, 10 September 1934, Page 7

RIVAL FACTIONS.

CROWDS IN LONDON BIG DEMONSTRATION. Fascists and Anti-Fascists Claim Triumphs. POLICE SCORE REAL VICTORY. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 9. While Fascists and anti-Fascists claim the Hyde Park demonstration as a triumph for their respective causes, there is no doubt that the victory went to the police, representing the forces of law and order. Such enormous crowds have probably not before been seen at open-air gatherings in England, the park being black with people. Though the majority of those assembled were sightseers wno treated the demonstrations as an amusing spectacle, thousands arrived in a truculent temper. The sinister sound of mingled jeers and cheers could be heard far from the park. The police handled the crowds with consummate skill. They carefully segregated the rival demonstrators, averting all possibility of a clash. A solid cordon surrounded the Mosleyites (Fascists) with mobile troops and mounted police within the cordon who galloped to points where crowds threatened to break through. The speeches were quite inaudible owing to the incessant shouting of the supporters of both parties. The Mosleyites were estimated at 10,000, including 1000 women. They their march from the Embankment, via Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly. Police lined the route and accompanied the marchers. When they reached the park, the Fascists met a continuous roar of hoots and jeers and shouts of "Go to Germany." The anti-Fascists converged on the park from different directions.

Barrage of. Tomatoes on Mosley. When Sir Oswald Mosley appeared on ' the platform, the anti-Fascists left their • own meetings and ran across the park. The pressure was terrific but the mounted police closed up the gaps when ] the cordons broke. Many people were crushed in a wild stampede to avoid , horses. Tomatoes and other missiles were : hurled at Sir Oswald Mosley, behind whom stood his lieutenants wearing black tunics and breeches, and heavy high boots. At the conclusion of his address the mounted police forced a passage through the crowd, after which the Fascists marched to Chelsea cscorted by police cars. When they readied, tlieir barracks, Sir Oswald Mosley, surrounded by liis bodyguard, reviewed his followers. Large crowds broke through the police cordon but were scattered by the * mounted police. Sixteen arrests were made. Police Autogyro in Use. A policc autogyro contributed to the succcss of handling the crowds. Not only did it encircle the demonstrations, but flew to various points of London when the procession was converging and leaving the park and sent wireless reports 011 tlio situation. Sir Oswald Mosley, in the course of his address, claimed that the great heart of Britain was behind Fascism. "We are assailed by the power of the old political parties who cannot meet us in fair debate but seek to cripplc us by legislation," he said. RADIO DIRECTION. POLICE HANDLE HUGE CROWDS. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON", September 9. The Black Shirts having planned a big demonstration in Hyde Park, a counter demonstration was organised at the same centre by the anti-Fascist organisations. Fearing serious disorder, elaborate police arrangements were made. Processions from all parts of London, both of demonstrators and counter-demon-strators, headed by mounted police, all assembled in an orderly manner. Altogether COOO police were on duty in the park. Lord Trenchard, Commissioner of Police, directed the operations by wireless from Scotland Yard. There were 5000 Mosleyites present at the demonstration. The police firmly but skilfully kept the crowds of Fascists and anti-Fascists in separate parts of the park. No serious disorder occurred. The police never needed to charge or use their truncheons. Only when the crowds were dispersing were there a few minor clashes resulting in IS arrests. A few people were slightly injured in the crush. As loudspeakers were not erected only a handful of people nearest the platforms heard a word of the rival orators' harangues.