EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 14398, 4 January 1911, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE.

PITCHED BATTLE IN LONDON WITH FOREIGN ANARCHISTS. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. (Received Jan. 4, 8.6 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. Seven hundred police are surrounding the buildings behind tho Anarchist Club in Jubilee Street and Commercial Road, and reinforcements are continually arriving. It is believed that Peter tho painter and Fritz, the remaining men wanted for tho murders of constables at Houndsdilch, are concealed in tho dub. Revolvers aro being continually fired. Detective Leeson has been severely wounded. Sixty Scots Guards have reinforced the police and are using rifles. The anarchists are maintaining a brisk fusillade with automatic pistols behind barricaded windows. Tho wanted men are secreted in a bedroom at tho top of the building. LATER DETAILS. LONDON, Jan. 3. After the siege had been in progress some time the building took fire, the murderers being driven into the attics. The fire brigade was summoned to extinguish the fire. Mr. Churchill arrived on the scene during the progress of the fight. Detective Cbesham was wounded. Thousands of spectators were watching tho battle. Some were struck by bullets. 'The troops kept up continuous sniping until the roof fell in. The desperadoes replied despite the flames. After the collapse of tho roof, the firemen commenced searching the ruins for bodies, and the remains of six anarchists wore discovered. Four firemen were injured by falling walls, and it is reported that two were shot before the building collapsed. Several arrests were made in the neighbourhood. ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE. HEAVY FIRING ON BOTH SIDES. (Received Jan. 4, 9.10 a.nl.) LONDON, Jan. 3. 12.20 p.m.—Sixty men of the Soots Guards have joined the police in the attack on the anarchists, and are using their rifles. The anarchists are maintaining a brisk fusillade with automatic pistols from behind barricaded windows. The men wanted aro secreted in a bedroom at the top of the buildings. The firing continues. 2.5 p.m.—The siege continues. Tho building is now on fire. 3.20 p.m.—A number of sheds have beer, pulled down, the better to isolate the position. Every rush by the police has produced a fusillade. Tho fugitives are roaming the building, firing from different windows. Scots Guards from the Tower occupied the ends of Sidney Street and fired from kneeling positions at every opportunity. Other Guards ascended tjie cooling tower of a brewery close by and fired into the attic. Others aro stationed in a yard facing tho windows and fire from tho shelter of baulks of timber providing natural loopholes. Five or six fugitives have been seen at tho windows firing alternately. Occasionally they giro a display of daredevilry by leaning from a window for a hasty shot. One policeman borrowed a Guard’s rifle and, despite a fusillade, ran to the house and shattered the lower windows with the butt of tho gun. Tho fire of the anarchists with their automatic pistols resembled a miniature Gatling gun. Many of the police have had marvellous escapes. 5.35 p.m. On Monday night the police attempted to arrest a woman at a house in Sidney Street, but were fired upon and withdrew. They arranged to surround tho building and attempted to raid it at daylight, hoping to catch tho fugitives asleep. This manoeuvre failed, but tho people inside were driven into the attics. Meanwhile other police assailed tho back of tho premises. They placed ladders in a yard adjoining a brewery, and attempted to scale the walls, but a fusillade from magazine pistols swept tho yard and compelled them to retreat. Detective Leeson placed the ladder and was shot in the stomach directly ho appeared above tho wall. The bullet is identical with those used in the Houndsditch affray. Leeson was taken to the London Hospital. Tho police retreated and every approach was closed. Neighbours are being ordered to remain in their houses. By the middle of tho morning tho police were a thousand strong. A party fully armed occupied Martin’s buildings opposite tho suspects’ tenement, and also neighbouring roofs, including that of tho Rising Sun public house. BUILDINGS ON FIRE. FIREMEN INJURED. (Received Jan. 4, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. Tho besieged buildings took fire at pne o’clock in tho afternoon, whether 'irom rifle fire is unknown.

Half an hour later a rattling tiro was directed on tho building, with a view of drawing tho besieged, but they did not reply. The windows and brickwork were demolished as tho flames arose, and men were seen on tho roof and they fired indiscriminately on the military. The spreading fire was accompanied by loud explosions as tho roof collapsed. Tho fire brigade extinguished tho flames after the building was gutted. Late in the afternoon tho ruins were searched and tho bodies of two men hardly recognisable wore found. One was removed. A portion of the building fell, burying a second and injuring six firemen, one critically. Other casualties are: Detective Leeson shot in the chest, not serious; a sergeant of the Scots Guards shot in the hand ; a policeman wounded in the hand. Three civilians have wounds in their heads. The police are satisfied that tho two men wanted for tho Honndsditch affair have perished. Tho police detained several persons taken from the lower portion of the building before tho siege. A force of hospital nurses are iu readiness on tho scene. Mr. Churchill arrived at noon and daringly proceeded beyond the firing line and surveyed tho house. Ho was subsequently persuaded to shelter. CAUSE OF THE FIRE. AN ABSURD RUMOUR. (Received Jan. 4, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. Tho rumour that Mr. M ins ton Churchill (Home Secretary) ordered the house to be burned is authoritatively contradicted. The police are convinced that the fire was due either to the fusillade cutting the gaspipes, or more likely that the miscreants fired tho premises to avoid capture. Of the two bodies found, the indications that one committed suicide.