WILD RIOTS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1932, Page 6

WILD RIOTS

IN LONDON CENTRES. POLICE CHARGES MADE. (United, Press. Association — D y Electric Teiegrapn—Copyright.) (Recemxi this m»v «t 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, October. 27. Though twenty thousand wituin Hyde Park gave little trouble, riotous scenes marited a, con diet between police and thousands of sympathisers with the hunger marchers, around Marble Arch. Befoiie the mass meeting began, an arrest outside the Park incited thousands to surge forward snarling and lfcoting, as the van removed 1 the prisoner.- Twelve mounted polioei charged with staves, while twenty chased the demonstrators into by-streets .and several were , arrested. Drapery shop windows were smashed but their shuttering prevented looting. Other disturbances were quelled hut as homegoing vehicles swelled the traffic, the roadways became chaotfc. The police cleared a passage and made further arrests, while the crowd threw mud at the stationary police cars. Mounted police dispersed a thousand men threatening special constables, whom the crowd resented as blacklegs. Fugitives rifled a coke car and smashed windows. Other demonstrators boarded the lorries, snatched mops and .pipes with which they were, laden and menaced the mounted constables. Some waving red flags .shout-. “To hell with the National Government.’' Police galloped up and 1 down Rotten Row quelling the disturbances and making further arrests before the procession broke up.

Eight civilians and four police were sent to the hospital. Ten thousand unemployed demonstrated against the “means test’’ at Glasgow. The police prevented trouble. There were similar displays at Birmingham and Manchester. About fifteen. thousand unemployed, including hunger marchers gathered at Hyde Park, causing disorganisation of traffic in West End streets for several' hours. The meetings concentrated on six platforms widely separated. Saklatva.la and Thin Mann were among the speakers. The most serious trouble occurred at Marble Arch where Lord Trenchard stationed parties of special constables.

The marchers, angry at their presence, began a threatening rush towards the specials. There were a number of' ugly episodes, resulting in twenty-three being injured), in clashes with police and unemployed, including a. policeman who was seriously injured by a bar of iron. In other cases the rioters broke windows in Oxford street shops using building bricks and lumps from an overturned coal cart. Apart from a few broken heads, the worst result was that it frightened women shoppers wh 0 unexpectedly found themselves involved in a riot in which mounted police cleared the streets Iby walking tfheir hc'ses on the pavements. A number of innocents were knocked down necessitating 'ambulances inside the park. Further trouble developed in Rotten ‘iEow, where a party of angry Communists seized handfuls of mud and gravel and flung it at the mounted police. The latter drew their batons and dispersed them. By 5.15 all the columns of hunger strikers left the park amd marched to the suburbs where they were billeted in houghs of. sympathisers. Many were obviously suffering from extreme fatigue. The lead<l s flried to .cheer tihem by singing eongs.