PITCHED BATTLE WITH STRIKERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIV, Issue 9025, 3 November 1925, Page 5

PITCHED BATTLE WITH STRIKERS

SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS AT PERTH Bv Tel.—Press Assoc. Copyright. Aust. N.Z. Cable Assoc. Rec. Nuv. 3, 6.5. a.m. Perth Nov. JL Hostilities broke out between the police and strikers alongside the. steamer Borda to-day. In the battle, which raged for two houx-s, many men were severely injured. Fully one thousand strikers gathered on the wharves owing to a report that an attempt would be made to get the Borda awa. They threw sfenes, coal, iron and bolts at the police and rushed them. The police, numbering about one hundred, made a baton charge. The ensuing scene was said to resemble a battlefield. Men, with split heads, were lying everywhere. The mob rushed aboard the Argyleshire, where a striker, armed with a waddy which he used freely, held the gangway. Eventually, the police boarded the vessel and arrested about one hundred men, after a terrific hand to hand fight. Guerrilla warfare is now raging. Reinforcements of police are rushing to the scene. The Commissioner of Police issued orders instructing his men to fire if again rushed. TROUBLE EXPECTED AT CAIRNS Brisbane Nov. 3. The situation at Cairns, where the farmers assernbled in large numbers pledged to insist on loading the ships, is grave. A clash with the strikers is expected. The steamer Pipirlki sailed from Brisbane unmolested, owing to the presence of the police. Reo Nov 3, 10.30 a.m. Perth, Nov. 3 While the waterside workers at Fremantle, viewed the ribbing as interested spectators, the British seamen feverishly armed, themselves in the vicinity of the Borda. The police were very patient and submitted to {he bombardment with lumps of coal and stones for about two hours. Viewing this inac- . - k tion as weakness, many of the strikers approached to close quarters taking, careful aim before throwing. The mob then appeared to be getting out of all control and the police charged. The rioters were swept back, but before tliis was accomplished the Police to pass through a heavy hail of coal and stones. Rushing to safety ,the strikers ran to another steamer with the police close at their heels. Simultaneously mounted trooper's made a. spectacular charge down the roadway parallel with the quay. Many arrests were made and the) bleeding heads of the police and strikers testified to tho vigour of the proceedings. The captain of the Borda applied for police protection while steam was raised, and a party of police were stationed on the vessel while the others remained on the wharf. Hearing of this the strikers gathered ou the wharf armed with hammers, iron bars and short lengths of wood. The secretary of the Seamen’s 1 Union arrived on the scene and addressed the men, whereupon the latter's attitude changed from a passive demonstration to one of action. A bugler sounded from among the strikers, who then commenced attack. The bugle was also the signal for the firemen and seamen on the Borda to lower rope ladders over the side of the ship, , the plan evidently being to overpower the police on the wharf and ' then take possession; of the ship. After a short struggle on board the strikers were overpowered. It was then 'discoverd that a considerable quantify of ammunition had been accumulated on the ship. There was a brief cessation in the hostilities and then the strikers again attacked the police, but were dispersed after sixty-five were arrested. Both police and strikers presented a dreadful spectacle with their faces and heads streaming with blond. One striker and one policeman were sent to hospital. The Borda later was fakerifrom the berth and anchored in the roadstead. Rec Nov 3. 10.30 a.m. Sydney, Nov 3 The Deportation Board commenced hearing the case against Mr Johnson, wherein he was called upon to show the cause whv ho should not bo deported. Brisbane, Nov 3 As the steamer Pipirik was rewinding Kangaroo Point the strik-

ers bombarded the vessel with stones, but the missiles fell short. General feeling on the waterfront at Bowen i s that the strike will collapse this week. Many inquiries havo been received from strikers as to the terms they will receive, if they return to work. The police at Bowen received official instructions that under no circumstances must the farmers be allowed to lay hands upon the property of the Railway Department. This prevented the Port Hardy from being coaled. COAL LUMPERS BADLY AFFECTED. Rec Nov 3, 10.40 a.m. Sydney, Nov 3 The coai lumpers are badly affected by the seamen's refusal to work the colliers carrying coal to j the tied up ships. More than half | of the total membership of the j union are unemployed and the ; union has stopped further donations to the 'strikers' funds. Perth, Nov 3 | After the attack commenced the strikers rushed to the Argylshire, from the deck of which they were assisted by other strikers bombarding police. The latter boarded the Argyllshire and after an exciting chase under a heavy bombardment of coal, finally cornered the strikers in the stokehold. Later advices state that many on both sides were sent to hospital. Un'dcr instructions from the Seamen's Union, the crew of the pilot steamer refused to convey the pilot to the motorship Enton on _ Saturday and the pilot was carried by a police launch. Adelaide, Nov 3 After two months' delay, the steamer Ascanius sailed stoked by stewards. j Brisbane, Nov 3 A party of 650 farmers and cane , cutters arrived at Cairns pledged to assist in loading and coaling the vessels rwihere tlhe watersdderss resfuse to work except under the rotary system. Although a secret ballot overwhelmingly favoured the resumption of work under the present . conditions for weeks produce has been accumulating on the wharves and further storage space for sugar is unprocurable. The farmers will attend the wharves to-day. The Chairman of the Transport Strike Committee in Brisbane announced that the committee has agreed to supply sufficient coal to the Port Hardy to enable the refrigerators to be worked. BLOW TO EXTERMISTS. Rec Nov 3, 11.10 a.m. Brisbane, Nov 3 The arrival of the farmers at Cairns delivered a smashing blow to the Communists attempting to • force the hands of the local branch of the Watersiders' Federation and the hold up of produce in the district valued at over £1,000,000. Many ugly incidents occurred 'during the day, but there were no serious casualties. Many extremists were forced to flee from the town, and others were locked up in gaol to save them from serious injury. While a large body of farmers was assembling near the %vharf, a foreigner who is prominent in strike matters, brandished a revolver. The prompt action of the police prevented a possible Ivnchin£ of the man who was removed tc the lock v.p and closely guarded j l>v the pr.lice. Before the of the dav ei:?htv watersiders. free from the inrimidafion tactics of inn extremist■?. rnrnm r-v, cerl workj The nresideiTf of the Veal branch j ; of the wai rt '-?iders. r,>xmi'P"rttlv as- j j soeiated M-if-h the hostile at f it ,^^n j (adorned firmer?. openlv ' I them fn TV } farmer? senrchpi-l frv- him at-d him' at home vhpre he tort'dered I a wr'fjen n-n-oln.'-n- nnd a? j "Presiderif of 1 1-t. Teenier' l lion