RIOT IN BUDAPEST

Southland Times, Issue 21178, 3 September 1930, Page 5

RIOT IN BUDAPEST

NUMEROUS CASUALTIES POLICE WITH DRAWN SWORDS GOVERNMENT REFUSES DOLE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) Budapest, September 1. An organized demonstration against the Government's alleged refusal to grant unemployment pay led to the most serious riot for a decade. It is estimated that four were killed and 300 wounded in the course of numerous clashes. The trouble began with dramatic suddenness. As an advancing horde of factory hands appeared in the streets, converging the traffic junctions, a hidden force of 5000 police, 3000 of whom were specially drafted from the provinces, poured from the side streets, mounted and dashed into the mob, but the workers continued to roll on like a tidal wave, shouting “We want work and bread.”

One account says that a squadron of mounted police was greeted with a volley of stones; then drawing swords and revolvers the police turned their horses on the crowd, slashing right and left with their swords. The mob hurriedly threw up barricades at the sides of the streets and refused to flee. Old women shook their fists at the officers, while their husbands and sons were beaten with the flats of swords. In the afternoon the Prefect of Police ordered the men to use whatever means were necessary to disperse the mob, and armoured cars were called out. Motor cars and traincars were overturned, cafes were smashed and shops were wrecked. An official communique states that Communist pamphlets were found on many of those arrested. At 8.30 on Monday night the Ministry of the Interior announced that order was restored, adding that adequate measures had been taken against a recrudescence.