S. AFRICAN FLAG

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1928, Page 7

S. AFRICAN FLAG

APPEALS FOR UNITY

DISORDER AT CAPE TOWN

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.)

(Received June 1, 1 p.m.) * CAPETOWN, May 31

Booming guns and fanfare of trumpets heralded the hoisting of the Union Jack and the National flags on Government buildings. The Governor-General, in a striking speech, said that many had no reason to. love the Union Jack, but they were not here to peer into the lost shadows of the retreating night. The Union Jack had now become their flag. The national flag was born of great traditions, which were entrusted to their charge. Premier Hertzog said the national flag was sheltering in its bosom equally the flags of the conqueror and conquered, and proclaimed to the world the ultimate impotence of war. General Smuts appealed to the people to gather round the new flag, and make it a thing for the cominggenerations to live for, and if necessary, to die for. Referring to the note of disappointment, he urged the people to rem'ain true to the light. “We cannot afford to go back to hateful controversies and endanger the new spirit of goodwill/” The day was marred at Capetown, where thousands of coloured hooligans, led by yesterday’s released prisoners, during the lunch hour, held up motors, snatched national flags from the bonnets, and damaged the cars. Women carrying miniature flags were molested. The mob joined a procession of coloured Communists, headed by a band carrying bannerettes “Afrikanders arise and down with the native slave laws.” It passed through the principal streets, stoned the police, and held up tiiams. The police charged with batons. The centre of the town is still in a ferment. A rope of the two flags at Grahamstown City Hall was cut during the night, and Union Jacks hoisted. Durban buildings are bestrewn with Union Jacks.