A QUIET MAY DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22252, 3 May 1934, Page 9

A QUIET MAY DAY

WIDESPREAD OBSERVANCE ORDERLY DEMONSTRATIONS PROCESSION IN LONDON (United Press Association.) (By. Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) LONDON, May 1. London’s May Day demonstration was one of the most orderly for years. The Trades Union Congress did not participate. The procession was organised by Communists and Left Wingers. They inarched a roundabout route decreed by the police to Hyde Park, and caused a few traffic blocks. The demonstrators included 21 Oxford graduates. «J HOLIDAY IN VIENNA. VIENNA, May 1. The Government decreed May Day a national holiday to celebrate the “ new Austria ” created by the Constitution. Contrasting with former years, when the Socialists held a festival, the celebrations generally passed off quietly, although the Nazis at Graz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck exploded smoke bombs to mark their disapproval. The Viennese apparently’ boycotted the celebrations, as there iwa’s. only a scanty gathering in the street*,. to .watch the Dollfuss procession. There was a similar lack of cnthusism throughout the country. A detachment of Italian motor cyclists travelling to Vienna to participate in the celebrations were stoned by Communists at Styria. They replied ■with revolver shots, killing one man. The Italians found the roads strewn with hails, and after scores of punctures many abandoned the journey. MOSCOW CELEBRATIONS. . MOSCOW, May 1. While 40,000 troops filed past in Red Square in celebration of May Day 552 aeroplanes, including 165 speedy bombers, manoeuvred overhead. M. Stalin took the salute from the top of M. Lenin’s tomb. "{ M. Dimitrov was a guest of honour. Many banners were Inscribed: “Down with Japanese Imperialism.” MINOR CLASHES IN FRANCE. •’ . PARIS, May 1. The Communists’ appeal for a May Day strike was unavailing in the centre of Paris, but many factories in the suburbs closed. The strikers included taxi men and employees at the Mint and Government match and tobacco factories. A Communist meeting of 40,000. at Vincennes was largely a picnic affair, There were a few minor clashes, but the Communists were. awed by the strong forces of police and troops. TOKIO DEMONSTRATION. , - TOKIO, May 1. May Day was quiet. Thousands of Labourites,' separated into Rightists and Leftists, demonstrated in Tokio under strong police precautions. A few arrests were made. “RED ” PARADE AT WINNIPEG. VANCOUVER, May 3.., Police restrictions- and a ban on demonstrations resulted in a quiet May Day throughout Canada. Five thousand people took part in, an orderly Communist parade at Winnipeg. At Vancouver vandals during the night painted the Cenotaph with-the words: “Down with Fascism.” The home at Toronto of a Ukrainian, mnti-Communist priest named Zass was bombed. No one was injured. PROCESSION IN BERLIN. . V- -■ BERLIN, May 1. .Thousands are marching in a monster May Day procession singing special songs, one, of which declares: “ One day mankind will tremble and shiver when the Germans rise again to fight for freedom .and justice.” Another concludes; ,“I shall die on foreign soil. Do not halt the horse. Push forward to the enemy’s land. Hurrah for victory! ”

SPANISH ANARCHISTS ARRESTED. MADRID, May 1 The police arrested a number of dangerous Anarchists for allegedly attempting to organise demonstrations on May Day. The police charged the crowds, resulting in numerous casual- / ties. . ' GUN BATTLE IN HAVANA. NEW YORK, May 2. (Received May 2, at 8 p.m.) In practically all the large cities in the western hemisphere Radical Labour elements observed May Day, but with the exception of a guii battle in Havana no serious disorders were reported. In New York Socialists and Communists held separate parades, the police keeping them apart. At Havana trouble started when a sniper from the top of a building fired on a parade of 10,000 Communist workmen, some of whom returned the fire, whereupon troops dispersed the mob with machine-guns and gas bombs. No one is known to have been killed but many were injured.