FASCIST MARCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 5 October 1936, Page 5

FASCIST MARCH

BAN IN EAST END ' LONPON FACTIONS CLASH POLICE P.ATON CHARGES NINE PEOPLE INJURED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 4. Despite an appeal by five East End Mayors and a Jewish petition of ]{lo,oon signatures, the Home Office refused to intervene to prevent' a Fascist inarch in the East End to-day. but all police leave was cancelled and subsequently the Commissioner of Police banned the march as originally proposed. Bodies of mounted and foot police were concentrated in readiness for emergencies. Friendly societies, trade unions and ex-servicemen supported the Jewish protest, the organiser of which said: "Police protection cannot guarantee order. It is impossible to prevent counter-demonstrations and individual outbursts." The Fascists were to be strongly escorted. Feeling in the East End ran high. Loud speakers carried on cars blared "Keep out Mosley." Red flags were flown from windows. TROUBLE IN ROYAL MINT ST. Half an hour before the time the march was due to start, trouble broke out in Royal Mint street, where the Fascists were mustering. The police made a baton charge and cleared the street. A crowd of anti-Fascists thronged Royal Mint street booing and shouting. The police charged and a number of men were left lying on the road. Nine persons were admitted to a hospital. Later the police commissioner banned the march. The Fascist "contingents arrived at Royal Mint street from all parts of London. Communists were not allowed to approach the spot where the procession was being formed and the police held back great crowds of people who were singing, booing and shouting.

Communists and members of the Independent Labour Party had arranged a counter demonstration at WhitecHapel in High street and Leman street, where traffic was also held up. In the meantime Sir Mosley, the Fascist leader, arrived at Royal Mint street and was informed \ that" the procession and meeting had been banned by the police, who would only allow a march to Blackfriars. This announcement brought cries of dissension from the ranks of the Black Shirts, but the procession marched to Blackfriars without incident.