SYDNEYITES RIOT TO SEE U.S.A. NAVAL SQUADRON

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1947, Page 7

SYDNEYITES RIOT TO SEE U.S.A. NAVAL SQUADRON

SYDNEY, May 19. Police and United States naval reinforcements were rushed to Woolloomooloo wharves when 9000 people tried to board and inspect four United States naval ships. The American Task Force authorities today state that the crowd shamshed two gangplanks and stole more than £2OO worth of the crew’s personal belongings, including cigarettes, razor blades, fountain pens, wallets and clothing. When the ships, including the carrier Shangrila were thrown open for inspection, the maximum crowd of 2000 soon Idled the vessels, but 3000 were left on the wharf and 400 C milled about outside the wharf gates. When part of hie crowd rushed the oiler. C'ikaskia, moored aft of the Shangrila, the oiler signalled the carrier for reinforcements. “Most of the people who visited the ships to-day behaved like an unruly football crowd,” said one officer. “The only thing I have seen to compare with this stampede was Navy Day at. San Francisco, when huge crowds over-ran the United States Fleet.” Rating found Sydney dull on Sunday, due to the absence of organised entertainment. Three ' American seamen were rescued by life-savers at Bronte beach.