PROVOKED TO FIGHT!

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12217, 15 August 1925, Page 5

PROVOKED TO FIGHT!

AMERICAN SAILORS MEET CHRISTCHURCH HOODLUMS

DISTURBANCE NOT SERIOUS

ALL LEAVE MEN, AS PRECAUTION, ORDERED BACK TO PORT

A small fight Sn a Christcuurch square, between a fevr American sailers and a number. of hoodlums, hwo had persistently annoyed them, took place on Thursday .night. As a precautionary measure, all the Americans wera' ordered back to their ships. Christchurch is indignant that its friendly relations with the visitors have been affected by the behaviour of a few hoodlums. v

(By Telegraph—(Special to ‘Times.’’) CHRISTCHURCH, August 14 American sailors on leave in the city last night were ordered back to their ships about 10 “o’clock as the result vf an affray which took place between sailors and civilians in Victoria Square. The trouble was caused by a disorderly section of the civilians, who have been free with insulting criticism since the arrival of the visitors. Last night their provocative attitude became too much for a small group of sailors, who were followed down Colon) bo street, and a fight ensued. No serious injuries were inflicted, and the sailors who took part in the disturb ai.ce were soon arrested by the naval patrol and taken to the police station Within 20 minutes every sailor on leave in the city had been ordered back to Lyttelton. According to Geveral sailors the affray was the direct result of incidents which had taken place early in the day. During the parade, they say, many of them were annoyed by insulting remarks passed as they marched.down the streets. The cry of several in the crowd was: “Who won the war?’’ and unpardonable words were rued. With these things rankling in their minds a party of about hnlf_ a dozfen sailors were walking in Victoria Square about 9.30 p.m. Young civilians followed them, and repeated the insults of the morning. Then the fight started. SIX SAILORS ARRESTED Patrol men hurried to the scene, and constables also came along. The patrol took charge of six sailors and removed them to the Central Police Station Although a large crowd had gathered neither the sailors nor the oiyiliant were injured, but one or two windows were broken. This morning the only American sailor.: to he seen about the city streets were the members of the special police patrol, who now number about SO. Five hundred men were, however, brought up from port and taken on an excursion to Sumner, but they were not allowed to remain in the citv. It was expected that leave, probably of a tnore restricted character than that allowed in the past few days, would he given this afternoon, and that the men would he severely warned. to keep out of trouble while in the city. "A VERY small section*. A patrol officer informed a reporter than .severe punishment is .ineted cut to sailors who are placed under arrest , and in most cases the men are not allowed any further leave while thpir vessels are In port. With very few exceptions the men were determined to avoid getting into trouble. “You can take it from me that ninetynine per cent, of our fellows like the Christchurch public, and that it is only a very small section that adopts a hostile attitude towards us,” remarked one of the patrolmen to a reporter. ' Although reluctant to discuss the rough element which is causing go much trouble, he stated in reply to questions, that as far as he could judge there were a few men who seemed to take a delight in getting the sailora into ho tele and making them drunk. In some cases these unwelcome hosts had no

money themselves, and when they had a few drinks they looked for fight. SAILORS BEHAVING WELL The American patrols ire concerned with their own men only, and even if it is quite clear that the trouble is due to direct provocation by the civilian, hoodlums they cannot do or say anything to them. The moat they can dc in such circumstances is to pull their own men out of the melee, and to do this without causing further argument requires the exercise of a considerable amount of tact. It is hoped that ■as a result of the action taken last night the publio and the sailors will avoid clashes in future Police Superintendent McKinnon I stated to-day that no complaints concerning the conduct of ihe American sailors had been brought under his notice, and the inspector and the subinspector had told him that there were no grounds for any complaints. “The sailors are a well-behaved body of-men,” added the superintendent, “and I can only speak of them with the greatest respect.” NOT SERIOUS When the'; reporter mentioned that the public seemed to he of the opinion that the police should take stronger action against the hoodlums who got into fights with the sailers, Superintendent McKinnon replied that the police were doing everything possible to protect the public, and nothing that had yet happened could be regarded as serious. With regard to the disturbance in Victoria Square last night, he said that the repents he had received were to the effect that the affair was not of a serious character, but apparently the American patrol officers considered that it was necessary to take drastic action in regard to their own men. HARM DQNE TO CITY Indignation was warmly expressed in the city to-day in regard to the events of last night. There was a strong feel ing that the local' police should be insti acted to take a firm line With the hoodlums who are insulting the visitors, and so defaming the fait name of the city. It is considered intolerable that a few roughs should be permitted to spoil the enjoyment of some thousands of men. 4 As far as the behaviour of the American seamen is concerned the public now. (have no complaint whatever. Their first afternoon ashore was a little hectic, but the offenders were only a few who had made some miscalculation. The sailors are conducting themselves very well l'rdeed, and are making many friends. They go about the streets bnietlv. and are responsive to manifestations of goodwill. It may he said emphatically .that the attitude df the general publio is e:.tireiy sympathetic with the tmer'can sailors, and that the great majority of the people are glad to tee them here, and to extend the hospitality of the community to them. The feeling jt that there is a danger of the great body of friendly feeling being submerged by the actions of a few fellows cf' the baser sort. On all sides nothing but orbits is heard for the good conduct of the great body of Americans since they si rived at Lyttelton. • ,