BATONS IN WHITEHALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

BATONS IN WHITEHALL.

RIOTOUS LONDON MOB. MANY PERSONS INJURED. The area around the Cenotaph, .in. Whitehall, erected in memory of "The Glorious Dead," whose surviving comrades in arms now out of work were marching by in procession at the time to support a deputation which waited on the Prime Minister in their interests, was the scene of serious and regrettable rioting, caused not by the unemployed but by hooligans who had attached themselves" to the "procession, writes a London correspondent. Over fifty people were injured, _ and twelve were admitted to Westminster Hospital. ' Nine arrests were made, and a number of men were subsequently charged at Bow Street, soma with looting. The Prime Minister had agreed to receive a deputation composed of fifteen mayors of London boroughs to discuss the unemployment question. A procession of unemployed escorted each mayor to the Embankment, and there united in ono imposing demonstration. The agreement was that the mayors should sea Mr. Lloyd George, and report afterwards on the Embankment. . Red Flags Waved. Those taking a legitimate part in it wore medal ribbons or army badges, many, very many, with wound stripes, and not a few could hold up the Mons Star to the spectators. There were some women, chiefly from Woolwich. The banners the men carried, for the most part, bore the words "We want work." But it was significant that here end there were borne flaming red flags. The mayors saw the Prime Minister, 'and while the interview was taking place the hooligan element tried to rush the situation. They gathered in hundreds at the "end of Downing Street and came in contact with the police. Red flags were waved, cheers given for Lenin and Russia, and stonethrowing began. Many spectators and passers-by were injured, and one policeman received a severe wound under the right eye. In the struggle the balustrades at the end of the street were pushed over* Within a few minutes fire engines and an escape came up, in response to a falsa alarm, and thus added to the excitement. ; Following several attempts to] force an entry the crowd advanced a short distance Into the street. Encouraged by . the disturbance the stone-throwers . behind the crowd assailed the police with more missies, Several officers were injured, and windows smashed.

Baton Charges; It was at €his stags that the police officer in charge gave the order to the mounted constables to draw batons and charge the

Up and down "Whitehall the police charged, at the gallop, using (heir batons freely. No sooner had they -wheeled round than demonstrators -who had. dodged into places of shelter re-emerged and returned to the attack. Once only was the foot police cordon at the entrance to Downing Street broken. Way was made, aisid tremendous cheering and' laughter,'' for a' young man on _an unsaddled white horse, and the police found their ranks breached. In a moment, however, the breach was closed .again, aflid a ride/rlesa nervous, yet . none too spirited—was led through Downing Street, horse and ex-rider (on foot}, under arrest. Then the arrival of & red flag, mounted on a bamboo pole, almost instantly turned the fun into a free fight Out broke the song of the " Red Flag," and with a tremendous surge the crowd swept the now greatly reinforced body of police back. Stones and broken banner poles were hurled shout, 'and police "and civilians were injured. Mounted police returned, and held the Whitehall end of Downing Street. A policeman was struck on the head with a jagged-stone, and feU from his horse.

Shop Windows looted. _Th» unemployed, for the most part, eon* tinned $beir march in "column of soaw" round: by 'Kbrtlnaaberland Avenue, and back to the Embankment.. By the United Service Institution/ where a .great "gathering of -hooligans bad assembled, apparently -with *-'* intentions against the War Office' and Horse Guards, the police made another charge, and the rabble fled to the Embankment. v There cries were. raised of, " 2Tc«r for the Strand," and a large number- ran for that thoroughfare by the ,✓ side I streets, indulging in the breaking* of windows of jewellers' shops. ■ ,-.-:--• ■••;• ■■&, i ~-.,,. \% ■ While the • genuine demonstrators' were marching towards • the Embankment on their return the , gangs of hooligans tried to -break-■ up their f ranks close to the Colonial Institute offices by Charing Cross Underground Station, v. 0 fc Finally a resolute charge of the .mounted police <;up_ Parliament Street drove the crowd flyinginto,the : Mall * arid-down towards the Horse Guards Parade. The police used their long sticks freely. _ There were ninety panes of glass broken mthe War Office« twenty-sis in the Privy Council offices; and eighteen long windows and twelve other smaller sheets of quarter inch plate glass smashed or crocked .in the Junior Army and Navy Club. ■■■*•■