STRIKERS ROUTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1946, Page 5

STRIKERS ROUTED

CHARGED BY POLICE ON HORSE-BACK

MELEE AT AMERICAN FACTORY NEW YORK, February 28. In a club-swinging melee lasting 30 minutes, police on horse-back, motorcycles, and patrol-cars routed 3000 strikers and sympathisers from the vicinity of the General Electric plant, says the Philadelphia cgrrespondent of the Associated Press, The police, endeavouring to enforce the prohibition imposed by the Court on mass picketing, knocked down at least 20 persons, and arrested 17 on charges of incitement to riot.

Several hours later, 5000 men and women threw a solid line of marchers round the City hall in what the union called a protest demonstration against police brutality. The Governor of Pennsylvania (Mr. Edward Martin) said the State police were ready to maintain order and appeal for federal troops if necessary. The police said 800 marbles were picked up at the scene of the morning skirmish and claimed that the strikers threw them to make police horses slip. Several - mounts fell, but the animals and riders escaped injury. The union claimed that the police used sneezing powder to make the marchers break ranks.