SERIOUS RIOTS IN TRIESTE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27191, 7 November 1953, Page 7

SERIOUS RIOTS IN TRIESTE

Allied Troops Aid Police (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.45 pan.) TRIESTE, November 6. British and American troops are standing by today ready to help Trieste’s 5000 police in case there is any repetition of the bloody anti-Allied demonstrations yesterday. British and American military police were seen all over the city last night as they patrolled the streets in radiocontrolled jeeps. It was the first time troops have been called out to help the local police. \ 24 ‘ h " general strike has been called by the local Chamber of Labour controlled by the Christian Democrat trade unions. It asked workers to- stay at home to avoid incidents. High school students, teachers, railwaymen and large numbers of other workers are already on strike. . One of the biggest pro-Italian demonstrations ever staged is expected? to accompany the funeral tomorrow of the victims of the riots yesterday—a 15-year-old schoolboy and a 55-year-old ship s steward. British-commanded police fired volleys of warning shots in the air this morning to disperse screaming crowds of Italian students protesting against the killing of the two Italians.

Excited Italians thronged Trieste this morning as the sympathy strike for the two Italians paralysed the city and approaches

companies of troops from the Allied occupation forces stood by in full battle order in case of renewed anti-Allied demonstrations, but stayed well out of sight. The spot where the two Italians died, near the steps of the Church of St. Anthony, had become a shrine this morning. Mourners stood silently round two small piles of stones qovered with chrysanthemums. Most of the Italians who roamed the streets were waiting for something to happen. Yelling demonstrators, .waving Italian flags and shouting anti-Allied epithets, particularly against the British Zone Commander (General Sir John Winterton), ranged the city last night.

Police under British command opened fire when a big crowd of schoolboys and adult demonstrators,

yelling “Trieste for Italy” and “Down with Tito,” began pelting them with stones. The boy was killed outright by a shot in the stomach, and a wounded man died later. Warnings by Police The police had given repeated warnings, but the demonstrators continued to hurl stones, and several times cornered British soldiers who held them at bay with their rifles. A British major of the Trieste police faced a howling mob of 300 demonstrators and helped to restore order. Jeeps with cowcatchers on the front cut a swathe through the mob and tear gas squads stood by. British troops threw guard screens round British hotels.

Protest strikes throughout the city and port ended nearly all work early in the evening.

An official communique said that General Winterton “greatly regrets that actions of irresponsible elements in Trieste* today should have led to a number of casualties.”

It added: “He wishes to assure the population he will take every measure needed to ensure order is maintained.”

The communique appealed jx> the people to “remain calm and exercise the utmost restraint.”

Thirty-three arrests were made during the morning clash between police and students near the Church of St. Anthony, but no casualties were reported, the statement added. The demonstrators attacked a number of Allied other installations, including the Excelsior and Regina Hotels, which are used by Allied officers. They also attacked the Prefecture and City Hall, both under Italian control. “Desecration” of Church The palace of the Bishop of Trieste announced that the Church of St. Anthony had been desecrated during the morning when police pursued demonstrators into the central aisle and spilt blood by hitting them over the head with truncheons.

The priest in charge of the church said: “Civil police had no right whatsoever to set foot in a church, where the right of asylum always has been respected throughout the centuries. This right has been violated by civil police under British-American command; The police did not hesitate to flood inside the chqrch with hoses and break in with arms in their hands.

“Like maniacs, they ran down' the length of the church, hitting innocent people who happened to be there. A young invalid who was unable to move was struck on the head. He was carried into the sacristy with his face covered in blood, and was then taken to hospital.”