STINK BOMBS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18447, 7 January 1922, Page 8

STINK BOMBS

TURBULENT LONDON MEBIXNGh BRITISH EMPIRE UNION FUNCTION. Amazing scenes were witnessed at a recent meeting of the British Empire Union held at the Central Hall, Westminster, The Earl of Derby was announced as the principal speaker, hut bis lordship was howled down, and finally the meeting had to bo abandoned. Sir Ernest Wild, K. 0.„ presided, , and during his remarks there were continual interruptions from a number of Communists and ex-Service men and unemployed seated in _ the gallery. Turning on his interrupters, Sir Ernest referred to, them as “pigmies.” He warned them that if they did not behave themselves they would be turned out, adding. “ Tou .wdll find plenty of your brother Bolshevists outside.” , RATTLES AND SQUEAKERS. Wheri the chairman, announced that Lord. Derby had consented to be their president, someone in the gallery shouted, “ On, Stanley, on!” at which there was a great deal of laughter. ' 1 A number of occupants of the gallery then began singing “ John Brown’s Body,’’ followed by the “ Red’ Flag,” and some stink bombs were thrown into the hall. A ■ steward went to one of the interrupters and requested him to leave, when, the man launched out with his fists.. A scene of _ pandemonium ensued. There was the blowing of whistles and the sounding of pig squeakers and rattles, and the air became thick with missiles which were showered on tpe platform. Those of the audience not demonstrating rose and began singing, and the organist played the National Anthem, but it *was impossible to drown the uproar from the gallery. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTS. While some fighting was going on in the gallery a woman rose and shouted: “I ask you to order your stewards to keep their hands off ex-Service; men in this, meeting. If they don’t we will not bo responsible for what happens.”-Hand-to-hand-fights took l place in several parts of the building, and an attempt was made to storm the platform. It was now; apparent that the meeting could not go on, ; and a strong body v of police was called in to eject the disturbers. Before the officers had time. to act, the opposition gainedrthc platform and seized a- large Umbo Jack which had ; been drap ing the front of the organ, and trampled on it. ■ EIGHT FOR UNION JACK, There was a desperate struggle for possession of the flag, which was ended by the police closing with the' demonstrators and ejecting them. The flag was recovered and restored to its place in front of the organ. After- the meeting a large number f of small wooden poxes picked up. Each box contained three stink bombs. Some bore the label “Anarchist Bombs.” In every case the label stated “Made in' Ger-, many.” Mr W. Cowlimshaw, ;'an official of the British Empire-Union, who a year ago was stabbed in the back by a taan at the office of the union, told a press representative that' the . man who first attempted to rush the platform was a half-caste. “I tried to stop him,” he said, “bat lie kicked rne andthrewmedown; I got up. and a second man, who was wearing .sqvqjaJ war ribbons,' attacked me,- striking me at the back of the head with a large . flower pot”’ • ' 11