JEW-BAITING.

Grey River Argus, 6 November 1911, Page 2

JEW-BAITING.

FEROCIOUS ATTACKS OM HEB REW TRADERS IN WALES.

The raids, cm the Jews in the Middle' Ages a;e brought 'to mind by- the ferocious attacks in the little towns of Monmouthshire during* the past fewnight. The outbreak was as sudden as it i was fierce. Crowds ffat-hered on Saturday night in. the streets ofTrcdeg-ar •much as they usually xlo, -but suddenly ou: of a by-street came a. group of young fellows, abo.ut 200 strong, and ai oncQ they swept along 'the main tihoroug"hfares, stopping* only, at Jewish shops, -which they demolished and looted. From street to street they went, irresistible and hopelessly, out of hand. The few policemen in the iown were swept aside. This was only the beginning-. On' Sunday, night the chapels poured their thousands into the streets and tlie people, although warned to go 'straight home, stood about and watched or formed part of the raging mob, which, again commenced i*s fell wc-nk. The military arrived at .midnig-ht, and it was only after several charg-es .by the police with the-sqldiers ready at hand to fira that the streets were cleared. BAYONET 'CHARGES. On Monday,-' , the fever spread to RhymneVj Ebb\v Vale, and lotihcr villages, and not only Jewish shops were destroyed, but "other premise as well. The Riot. Act was read 'about? six times, and the soldiers charg-ed tiho crowpds with fixed, bayonets. No firing", 'however,; took place, a faci which is being adversely. criticised locally. Watches w^re ■■'carried away 1 by women in their, shawls, bicycles were token a.n<J ridden away to a place ,of concealment, jewellery was strewn in itho streets, and. valuable, plate was .carried into private Houses, "the marauders hurrying-.' back again tio join in further' looting. There was no re- , specting* of persons.- Townsmen- of great local standing "and well-known public men suffered , alike with t-heir kindred of lesser repute. I At Tredegrar the shops of sqme prominent Jewish residents ware looted on Wednesday .and Thursday. The crowds were charged firs^ by the police, but their efforts were of little, .avail. • Then"t<he order Was given, 'to i the soldiers to fix bayonets and chargrc and thia command was promptly oloeycd, with the, result that the crowd scattered hc-lter skelter in h'oni of I fh« soldiers, .and several people ■ were injured. No. sooner .had the soldiers .charged than the crowd again gather ed from . the side streets where they 'had taken refuge.' and following 1 i'he troops jeered at them and mocked the officer commanding 1 . The soldiers then turned round and charged again arid 'ag-ain. Shortly before midnig-h: they succeeded in. driving the .main 7 body of the rioters .through the main street in frbie .direction of tlic village of Gilf ach, a: anile' away. ' The rioters on their way .smashed the' windows of several shops and private houses, but had very little time .to do any looting. The (military proceeded to the village and remained there to protect property. FLIGHT FROM THE DISTRICT. Most of the Jewa who have been practically rendered homeless ; have packed up their remaining valuables and ' flod from tho - district, afraid for. their lives. ■ A corresponden; 'has made exhaustive enquiries- into the cause of this extraordinary antipathy tfo the Jews. It is alleged that- the Jews have put up the price " of. ■ their goods sinco the strike., .There are also vague charges that the Jewish community, possess a great deal of- property,. in these districts,- and the great outbreak of Reeling against 1 them is alleged to have been, caused' by their rack-renting, imethods. They arc further alleged to bo compelling their team's to purqhasc at their shops. ' These ' statements are very strongly repudiated .by the ' Jews themselves. They assert that the amount of property held by them is very small, and that the rent they charge is in" • proportion t|q the general rate in 1 tho toAvn. • The othercharge of compulsory buying in 'Jewish shops is characterised as ridiculous. The damage done amounts '•&< thousands of /pounds, which, of, course, the- community will havo to 1 " pay for".