Disgraceful Scenes of Hooliganism in Sydney

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 191, 14 August 1945, Page 5

Disgraceful Scenes of Hooliganism in Sydney

MOB HYSTERIA AND WANTON DESTRUCTION.

Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. SYDNEY, August 13.

Hoodlums imperilled Sydney with fire during last night’s premature peace celebrations which culminated in some of the most disgraceful scenes of mob hysteria and wanton destruction ever witnessed in the city. Carrying flaming torches they started hundreds of fires in the streets, in doorways and under awnings. Sparks from any one of them could have destroyed a whole city block, said the chief fire officer. Scores of thousands of people swarmed through Sydney streets on Sunday night. Hoodlums and young servicemen in a crowd of 40,000 rioted for an hour in Martin Place. The police had to use force to disperse them. The rioters uprooted a poplar tree at the Cenotaph. It was one of two trees sent from France after the First World War. They overturned and smashed a number of flower kiosks operated by limbless returned men and set two on fire. At the same time other hoodlums clambered to the top of the Australian Comforts Fund wooden hut in Martin Place and tried to set it on fire. Two city fire engines, with sirens screaming, raced to the scene, but hundreds mobbed the engine and carried it away. The firemen finally extinguished the blaze on the hut roof with chemical extinguishers. Tram traffic in Pitt Street was stopped and trams were put ’out of action when their poles were pulled from the overhead wires. The Metropolitan Police Superintendent stated that the police have been instructed to put down future hooliganism with a firm hand and arrest anyone endangering life and property. He added that a considerable number of additional police will be in the city during the future celebrations and these men will be told not to hesitate to act. A police official has urged shopkeepers to see that someone is in charge of the shops during the official holiday nights. “The police,” he said, “will do their best to protect life and property, but it will be impossible to guard all the premises. “Persons of the criminal type are ready to take advantage of the situation. The removal of stocks from windows would also not be amiss,” he added.

Except for milk housewives will have to obtain food mostly on the “catch-as-catch*can” principle during the two days of peace holidays. Mr. Chifley has asked all food suppliers to open their shops for a few hours at least each day, but it is not known what hours the shops will open. Official victory in the Pacific celebrations will include rocket displays, gun salutes, formation flying, a victory march through the city, the flood-light-ing of buildings, entertainment by radio artists, special church services, street dancing and band and orchestra playing. More than 100,000 ex-servicemen and women are expected to participate in the victory march.