MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 9

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS.

SERIOUS RIOTS IN BERLIN. THE POLICE HEAVILY STONED. MANY PEOPLE INJURED. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) BERLIN, May 1. The May Day celebration is developing and rapidly becoming menacing. There was heavy rioting ,in the heart of the city and in the working-class suburbs. The rioters stopped motor ears and ejected the passengers. The police, who were heavily stoned and opened fire bn the rioters, had increasing difficulty in dispersing jfiie crowds. Many people were injured.. There were 200 arrests. Nobody was allowed within a mile of the Wilhelmstrasse, which was strongly guarded.—Australian Press Association —United Service. , BATTLES IN THE STREETS. AMBULANCE MEN KEPT BUSY. BERLIN, May 1. Late to-night the situation took a very serious turn in the northern quarter of the city, which is mostly inhabited by the working classes. From 2000 to 3000 Communists, armed with firearms, clubs, and stones, under cover of .darkness poured into the main thoroughfare, the Pankstrasse, and erected barricades with surprising swiftness. Five hundred police opened fire and repeatedly charged the barricades. It was only after an hour’s fighting with the aid of armoured cars that the barricades were captured. The Communists’ ambulance men were soon overwhelmed by the number of victims they had to carry from the firing line. The number of casualties is-not known. Three police -were killed and 24 wounded. Fighting has broken out in the southeastern parts of the city, which is plunged in darkness.—Australian Press Association—United Service. ■ EIGHT PEOPLE KILLED. LARGE NUMBER WOUNDED. BERLIN, May 1. (Received May 2, at 10 p.m.) The casualties amounted to - eight killed and 78 wounded, including 24 pplicemen, but the rate is probably much higher, as it is believed that the Communists secretly removed some of their killed and carried, off the wounded., The day was uneventful in other parts of Germany.—United Service. SCARCITY OF RED FLAGS. , EFFECTIVE ACTION BY POLICE. ] BERLIN, May 1. i According to the Pravda, Monday’s', events are not likely to be regarded withsatisfaction in Moscow. The policeachieved their main purpose of prevent-} ing two big processions. There was a remarkable scarcity of Red Flags even, in the working class districts, ■ their’ places being taken by Republican flags. —} Times Cable. • - ( BIG. PROCESSION IN MOSCOW. ’ ■ • 1 TWO-HAY DEMONSTRATION, ! ' : •' • MOSCOW, May 1. | There is a great two-day demonstrai tion in the Red Square. There were nearly 1,000,000 people in the procession. —Australian Press Association—United Service. | FACTORIES IDLE IN PARIS. TWO THOUSAND ARRESTS. PARIS, May 1. Many factories are idle. There were 2000 arrests, including 50 foreigners. Aeroplanes are patrolling during the parades.—Australian Press Association — United Service. LONDON NOT AFFECTED, i' AN ORDERLY PROCESSION. \ —— . i LONDON, May T. (Received May 2, at '9 p.m.) -! Reports from European capitals,V reveal that the May Day threats of (riot and bloodshed were merely empty Communistic propaganda. London went about its work unaffected, and at big I. procession to Hyde Park did nothing ' more than seriously dislocate traffic. I Reports from the Ruhr district show that the demonstrations were orderly, while the Rhineland and Westphalia were quieter than for years Jpast. Bucharest says that the country j was undisturbed, and outdoor festivities calm. Vienna was very quiet. Warsaw ! was very quiet, but at Moscow several | were killed and wounded. .At Her 1 in. ! as the result of the police attack qh the ■ barricades, six Communists, were killed and 80 wounded, while over 1000'were arrested. Australian Press Association. BOMBS EXPLODED IN BARCEI^ONA. ■ , BRIDGE PARTLY DESTROYED. | LONDON, .May 1. j (Received May 2, at 10 p.m,) Reports from Barcelona state that two bombs exploded there and destroyed a bridge, and telephone wires were cut. The opinion is expressed that it was something more serious than a May Day demonstration.— Australian Press Association. .