RIOT AT BROOME

Evening Star, Issue 17542, 23 December 1920, Page 9

RIOT AT BROOME

TWO JAPANESE KILLED. I«T4SB Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PERTH, December 21. A Japanese at Broome, claiming racial equality, ran amok armed with a stick and firearms. A general riot followed, in which two Japanese were killed, and others were wounded. Two white police were injured. Ihe Riot Act was read, and all the white inhabitants were sworn in as special constables. Returned soldiers and rifle club men, under A.T.F. officers, are patrolling the town and disarming the Japanese. December 22. . Reporting details of the riot, the police inspector at Broome states that the Janapese allege that the Koepanese stoned tpe Japanese. They then collected 1,000 strong, and, armed with clubs, began a search for the Kopanese. In tho melee which ensued two Japanese were killed and throe Koepanese badly injured. Tin's morning the Japanese restarted their search, and wounded two Koepanese andi two -white men who protected tho former, ■ one being speared in the arm and the other beaten on the head with sticks. ’ After, tne Riot Act had been read, all the whites mustered at the police station, and armed parties were sent to patrol the various parts of the town visited by the Japanese mobs. Great forbearance was shown by the whites, for although practically all were armed, no shot was </ri 1 1 to"" *'k em - The report concludes; If this state of affairs continues, I fear there will be more bloodshed. The Malays are holding aloof, but they threaten to attack the Japanese if the whites are further molested. The racial between the Japanese and the whites is running very high, the former claiming racial equality.” °