MEN WHO BROKE SILENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 January 1927, Page 12

MEN WHO BROKE SILENCE

PELTED BY ANGRY CROWD. Workmen 1 on the site of a building at the corner of Banner Street ami Whitecross Street, London, E.C., which was demolished during an air-raid, refused to keep the two-minutes’ Silence on Armistice Day. A man behind a barricade is alleged to have made offensive remarks in a loud voice concerning the costers and others who were retertnly observing the Silence in Whitecross Street. One of the workmen was heard to suggest that they should observe the Silence, but the foreman, a foreigner. is stated to have said that he was more concerned with Moscow than the observance of the Silence. When the Silence ended a rush was made by those in the street, who climbed the barricades and pelted the 20 workmen with bricks and refuse. Most of them took refuge underground and the foreman barricaded' himself in his hut. He later apologised, but the crowd was not satisfied. During the dinner hour the workmen remained under shelter.

The foreman escaped early in the afternoon. When the workmen attempted to leave later, they were pelted with red ochre, flour, and missiles and retreated inside the barricade, protecting themselves with cement bags. The crowd continued to be hostile until the contractors’ manager arrived.

The Swedish foreman-labourer—A Dragsund.—-was dismissed when he arTivcd to begin work next morning.