ROWDY SCENES IN A LONDON STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 7

ROWDY SCENES IN A LONDON STREET.

FASCISTS' MARCH, j Police Clear Street With Baton Charge. PARTIAL- BAN IMPOSED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON", October 4. Half an hour before a march in London organised by British Fascists was due to start, trouble broke out in Royal Mint Street, where the Fascists were mustering. Police, in a baton charge, cleared the street. A crowd of anti-Fascists thronged Koyal Mint Street, booing and shouting. The police charged and a number of men were left lying on the road. Nine were admitted to hospital.

Later, the Police Commissioner, Sir Philip Game, banned the march. Fascist contingents arrived in Royal Mint Street from all parts of London. Communists were not' allowed to approach the spot where the procession ■was forming. Police held hack great crowds of people who were singing, booing and shouting.

Communists and Independent Labour party followers had arranged a counterdemonstration in Whitechapel. High Street and Leman Street, where traffic was held up.

In the meantime, Sir Oswald Mosley, the Fascist leader, arrived in Royal Mint Street and was informed that the procession and meeting had been banned and that the police -vVould allow them to march dnly to Blackfriars. This announcement brought cries of dissent from the ranks of the Black Shirts. The procession marched to Blackfriars without incident.

In spite of an appeal by five East End Mayors and a Jewish petition with 100,000 signatures, the Home Office earlier had refused to intervene to present the Fascist march. However, all police leave was cancelled and bodies of mounted and foot police were concentrated in readiness for emergencies. Friendly societies, trade unions and exservicemen supported the Jewish protest. Feeling in the East End was reported to be running high. Loud-speakers were carried in motor cars last evening blaring: "Keep out Mosley." Red flags flew from many windows. FASCIST VIEW. "Open Surrender to Red Terror," Says Leader. SIR 0. MOSLEY'S STATEMENT. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON", October 4. Sir Oswald Mosley, in a statement, says: "This is the first time a Government has openly surrendered to the "Red" terror. Fascists have held countless successful meetings in East London. " "Socialists, Communists and Jews on this occasion openly organised not only to attack the meetings but to close streets by violence. "The Government has taken no action against them and the necessity for Fascism could not be more cleailv proven. When a Government cannot govern a nation it soon sends for those who can."