ATTACK ON STATUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10730, 30 October 1928, Page 5

ATTACK ON STATUE.

REMARKABLE SCENE AT PONS

YOUNG ROYALISTS FIGHT WITH POLICE

ONE MAN FATALLY SHOT

FLIGHT OF TERRIFIED CROWD United Press Absh. by El. Tel. Copyrie&t (Australian Press Association.) PARIS, Oct. 23. There was a remarkable. scene at Pons during the unveiling of ' a marble statue, Emile Combes, by M. Her riot. The actual ceremony had closed when a band of young royalists broke down the police cordon which had been formed in anticipation of trouble, and rushed the bust. One quickly hammered off the nose and chin, while his comrades. were engaged in a fierce struggle with the police. Many of the latter were knocked down in the melee. The police drew; revolvers, and fired, •one* of -t-he-demonstrators being-fatal-ly shot, while another received a bullet in the arm. The shock quelled the excited royalists. who abandoned the struggle, Twelve were arrested, but the others escaped. Tho terrified crowd fled before the shots. There were several threats previously that the statue would not be tolerated but the police were off guard because the attack was delayed until M. Herriott had completed the unveiling and departed. ” The Archbishop of the Bordeaux diocese, including Pons, recently issued a manifesto of protest against the ceremony; The Archbishop of Bordeaux protested against the glorification of Combes’ regime as preparing through a religious war for a world war costing France so much blood and treasure.