SAAR SENSATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 December 1934, Page 7

SAAR SENSATION

BRITISH OFFICER ATTACKED ~iBY ANGRY CROWD [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. December 17, 11.30 a.m.) SAARBRUCKEN, December 16. Captain James Justice, a British special police officer, after spending the evening at a cafe, in civilian clothes, with other officers, was driving home at three o’clock in the morning, accompanied by two friends, including the Earl of Aylesford, when a tyre burst. The car skidded, mounted the pavement, and injured a woman. An angry crowd attacked Justice and Aylesford, of whose identity they were unaware, with sticks and stones. Justice fired his revolver in self-defence, wounding a person in the stomach, although not seriously. The victim was sent to hospital. ■ The crowd retaliated, beating and kicking Justice, who was admitted to hospital in a serious condition. It is believed that he is suffering from a fractured sku)l. Aylesford states: “I don’t know how it started. I saw the crowd beating Justice, and went to help him. The next thing I knew I received a blow on the face.” The chauffeur of another car says: “I saw the crowd set about Justice. They were merciless. Justice was hit and kicked on the head and face, and was covered with blood.” The incident has caused intense excitement throughout the Saar.

WOMAN COMPANION’S STORY. (Received December 17, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. The British United Press Saarbrucken correspondent says: Katy Braun, a local girl, has given the Saar Commission a detailed report of the Justice affair. She says: Justice was driving me home from a night club. Aylesford occupied the back seat. Justice was sober, and capable of managing the car, but not noticing the number, he drove past my house. In turning round, he backed the car on to the pavement, knocking down a woman, who screamed. A number of men leaving a. cafe, advanced on Justice menacingly. Justice apologised for knocking down the woman. They only threatened Justice, whereupon he explained* he was a police officer, and drew a revolver. This infuriated the crowd, and somebody hit Justice a terrific blow on the head, shouting, “What do yoii mean, you dirty pig of an Englishinhii!”. She grabbed Justice’s revolver hand, or more people might have been shot. “I think the attackers were Nazis. I am a Nazi myself, and a member of the German Front.” Latest information says the woman knocked down was only hurt. The incident caused the Commission much perturbation. Mr Knox spent the day soothing the. Jigly. feelings which unfortunately have arisen op the eve of the arrival of the British contingent. OFFICIAL VERSION. SAARBRUCKEN, December 16. Mr Knox officially states: “A car driven by a police officer attempting to turn a corner,'drove on to the pavement, injuring one person. A crowd assembled and threatened the three passengers, especially the officer who was driving. A free fight followed. Several shots were fired. One person was injured. The police officer was injured by blows and admitted to the . hospital. The police will investigate and report, and a Court of Inquiry will be held. The aggressor will be dealt with in full severity and without consideration for status. The police officer will be deprived of his rank until the matter is cleared. up. Officials consider that no political importance attaches to the incident, and emphasise that Justice is not a member* of the Regular Forces. JUSTICE INTERVIEWED. (Recd. December 17, 3 p.m.) * LONDON, December 16. It is now learned that the injuires to Justice, who is an ex-member of the South African Police, are confined to cuts and bruises. The car struck Mrs Steig, walking with her husband, necessitating first aid. Bystanders, including members of the Deutschfront, became hostile, and called others from an adjacent restaurant, until forty menacing Nazis surrounded Justice, who produced his papers, establishing his identity as a police officer, and asked the crowd to disperse. They refused, man-handling Aylesford. Justice threatened them with a revolver, which several attempted to seize. Two shots were fired. One superficially hit an electrician, Neqmeisterer, in the stomach. Justice, interviewed in the hospital, admitted the car ran over a woman’s foot, and also knocked a man over without* 'hurting him. He added:— “When.the crowd became menacing I drew tiie gun. Somebody socked*me on the head, upon which I fired into the ground in order to. frighten them. Someone then tried to seize the revolver, which went off again, and just scratched somebody’s skin. The crowd then knocked ,me unconscious. The police cleared up the show.” Wietmann, Deputy Leader of the Deutschfrontji whilp willing to regard the incident as" accidental, requests a . prevention of the recurrence.

BRITISH FORCE. [BRITISH' OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, December 16. Large advance parties of four British infantry battalions will cross the Channel on Monday, and will continue their journey to Saarbrucken on .Tuesday. The main body will cross on Thursday and Friday, and the whole British force will be in the Saar a week from to-day.. Mo'st of the wheeled troops will proceed from Calais by road. The Belgian Cabinet, last night, decided to grant free transport on the railways to the troops of the Saar force, a procedure which the French authorities are also adopting.