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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16558, 23 May 1914, Page 11

BARRING A DEPUTATION. POLICE GUARD THE PALACE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, May 21. Tho neighbourhood of Buckingham Palace is like a camp. Police surround the buildings two deep, with' a ring of bayonets behind them.

Another thousand police hold themselves in readiness, having been warned for special duty to prevent Mrs Pankhurst’s deputation from interviewing the King.

RAID A FIASCO

MANY ARRESTS MADE

LONDON, May 21

In the presence of many thousand persons, the suffragettes’ raid on Buckingham Palace was a fiasco. A little band of women, headed by Mrs Pankhurst, Miss Sylvia Pankhurst and Mrs Tuke, quitted the crowd and rushed towards the police cordon at tho top of Constitution Hill. Mrs Pankhurst was seized and placed in a tnxi-cab, shouting “That’s right. Arrested at the gates of the Palace. Tell the King.”

Miss Sylvia Pankhurst was removed to Holloway Gaol. 'There was much hand-to-hand fighting, and several police were lnjuied. Women threw white and green colouring matter over the police. jJurtytwo women and three men were arrested.

A HUNGER STRIKER. (Received May 22, 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 22.

Mrs Drummond' has been released after hunger striking. Despite weakness, she refused to go to a nursing home, but went to Mr M’Kenna’s house and sat on the doorstep. The police rearrested her. A RAID BY THE POLICE. Tho police raided a house g,t Maida Vale and arrested five women. They seized important documents, and many bags of flints and hammers, believed to be intended for a window smashing campaign proposed as a protest against Mrs Pankhurst’s arrest.

A SCOTTISH DEMONSTRATION.

MEETING BROKEN UP.

The indignation of the British public has been greatly roused by recent militant outrages, and this resulted a few weeks ago in an unfortunate scene, in which even tho fury of the militants was outdone. A suffragette meeting was advertised to be. held at Haddington, Scotland. A feeling of intense antagonism had been brewing in the town and district, where the Whitekirk outrage, which happened so close at hand, had roused extraordinary indignation. Twenty minutes before the hour of commencement the place was overcrowded, and still people forced their way in, standing on tho backs of forms and other available uncomfortable' places. Before Mrs Charlton could speak, someone in the rear of tho hall liberated a bird, which fluttered all over the place, and just missed the lady standing on the platform. Mrs Charlton proceeded to introduce the speakers, but even within a few yards of the-platform only an odd ' word of her remarks could be heard. She was continually interrupted with cries of “ What about Whitekirk?” and as she went on her voice was drowned in cat-calls, imitations of barnyard noises, effected with the aid of a tin box and pieces of waxed string, while another party was making the 'night hideous with a toy instrument. Continually there was echoed tho question, “ What about Whitekirk? That’s what we want to know.” Then there was a sound of sneezing, first one or two, then subsequently everybody in the ball was affected. A ball of paper flashed past 1 lie speaker’s head. This was the first missile thrown, and it looked as if the platform party and those near by were going to be.in the danger zone. Cheers were heard at interfals from outside, and with great jubilation the chairman announced that a splendid meeting was being addressed on the street by Miss Muriel Stewart. About ten o’clock word was sent up to ' the hall for Mrs Blair to come to the; window to address the crowd 1 below. She proceeded to do so, and left tho platform. Immediately there was a rush in the direction she was taking, and fears were expressed that the window at which she stood would bo broken in. The situation looked very ugly, the whole audience being on their feet and dozens scrambling towards the window. Miss Blair shouted down that she presumed there were gentlemen below—there seemed, sho said, to bo very few in the hall. All this was an example of male chivalry, but they hud got a lino reception and would come hack again. An egg was pitched up at Mrs Blair and just missed her. This incident closed the meeting, the ladies being advised that it would be expedient to bring the proceedings to a conclusion.