RIOTS IN BROOME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2143, 28 December 1920, Page 7

RIOTS IN BROOME.

TRUCULENT JAPANESE. ALL WHITES ARMED. The Perth correspondent, of the Sydney "Sim" gives the following mUlitional details of the racial riots at Broome, West Australia:— For some tinie past indented Japanese in Broome have been very cheeky, declaring openly that they are as good as white men, and claiming racial equality. Affairs reached a climax last night, when a occurred, resulting in two Japs being killed and several others, also many Koepangers, being injured. Early last night Sergeant Spry attempted to rescue two Koepangers from the Japs, calling on Fisheries Inspector Stuart to help. Both white men were slightly injured. Dick Francis, a white man, attempted to assist the Koepangers on the schooner Gwendoline, and received a. nasty gaysh on the face. Early this morning the Riot Act was read to the crowd. Practically all the whites have been sworn in as special constables. Returned soldiers and members of the" rifle club were called out and are patrolling the town under exA.I.F. officers, disarming the Japs, who all through the night paraded the streets armed with sticks and firearms. Malays Threaten Attack.

The Malays are holding aloof, but are threatening' to attack the Japs if the whites are further molested. The Japs were responsible for the whole fracas. It is locally agreed that the majority should be dejjorted. Indented men have been acquiring big business interests here for some time past. The concerns are being managed' by. educated Japanese, who are here on the plea of gaining commercial experience. It is a wonder to everybody why the Commonwealth allows so many to remain here under the pretext of commercial experience. The hotels have all been closed by the police. Inspector Thomas,, of Broome, this morning wired the Commissioner of Police at.Perth: "Last night the •apanesc alleged that the Koepangers stoned a Japanese. They collected a thousand strong find searched, armed with clubs, for Koepangers. In the melee that ensued two Japanese were killed and three Koepangers badly injured. All the whites of Broome have been sworn in as specials, and patrolled the town during the night. A 5 o'clock this morning the Japanese restarted} the search andf wounded two Koepangers and two wJßite men who protected the KoeTJangers.' One was speared in the arm and the other beaten with sticks over the forehead.

"R.S.L. members gathered at the police station, armed, under Captain Bardwell, at my request, and conducted patrols during the night. All whites are now mustered at the police station, ' armed, and parties are sent to various - calls from parts of town visited by the Japanese mobs. The Riot Act was read-, by the magistrate this morning. Great forbearance has been shown .by the whites. Although they are practically all armed, -no «hot has been fired by ■ them. "If this state of affairs continues I fear more bloodshed." December is always regarded, as 9i troublesome month in Broome, whibh is the headquarters of the pearling fleet, i Boats go into the creek near the town and lay up over ths summer. The first of the fleet begin to arrive about the' end of November, and the remainder come in between then and Christmas week. Consequently it" can be stated that the whole of the fleet is now laid up and the crews' ashore. A few years ago when Japanese began to cast the Malays and Koepangers from the fleet, racial feeling ran high, and the Japanese Club and the Mo lav Club became the headquarters for the respective nationalities, the Japanese at the time becoming so truculent' that they, purchased all the available arms .and ammunition in the town. Fortunately, \ however, clashes between the ' two * races never developed into anything more' than melees in which sticks anfl stones were used. The most populous part of Broome is the Japanese town, ' with its galvanised iron, buildings all huddled together. One of the main ' stores in the town is conducted by a Japanese firm in their own quarters. The Japanese maintain -all their national mannerisms, customs and dress. "A Dog's Life." A Broome resident, who has just arrived in Fremantle, when informed of i the happening at Broome, said that trouble had been brewing there for n considerable time, as the Japanese had! ■* been getting very, aggressive, and holding themselves superior to everybody. It was necessary to send out one white man with seven Japanese in each pearling boat. .The, Japanese had been leading these unfortunate Europeanes a dog's life. There are 1200 Japanese in Broome. X