DISGRACEFUL SCENES IN SYDNEY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23278, 14 August 1945, Page 5

DISGRACEFUL SCENES IN SYDNEY

Hoodlums Run Wild Police Are Reinforced By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assa.—Copyright (9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY,, Aug. 13. Hoodlums imperilled Sydney with fire during last night’s premature peace celebrations, which culminated in some of the most disgraceful scenes of mob hysteria and wanton destruction ever witnessed in the city. Carrying- flaming torches, they started nunareds of lues in the streets, in doorways -nd under awnings. Sparks from any one of them could have destroyed the whole city block, said the chief fire officer. The Metropolitan Police Superintendent stated that the police had been instructed to put down future hooliganism with a firm hand and arrest anyone endangering life and property. He added that a considerable number of additional police will be in the city during future celebrations, and these men will be told not to hesitate to act. A police official has urged shopkeepers to see that someone is in charge of the shops during the official holidays and nights. “The police,” he said, “will do their best to protect life and property, but it will be impossible to guard all premises. Persons of the criminal type are ready to take advantage of the situation. The removal of stocks flora the windows would also not be amiss,” he added. Except for milk, housewives will have to obtain food mostly on “the catch-as-catch-can” principle during two days of the peace holidays. The Prime Minister (Mr J. B. Chifley) asked all food suppliers to open their shops for a few hours at least each day, but it is not known what hours the shops will open. Crowds in Streets Crowds in Australian capitals continue prematurely to celebrate the end of the Pacific war. Scores of thousands of people swarmrd through Sydney streets last night. Hoodlums and young servicemen in the crowd of 40,000 rioted for an hour in Martin Place. The police had to use force to disperse them. Rioters uprooted a poplar tree at the Cenotaph. It was one of two trees sent from France after the first World War. They overturned and smashed a number of flower kiosks operated by limbless returned men, and set two on fire.

At the same time other hoodlums clambered to the top of the Martin Place Australian Comforts Fund wooden hut to set fire to it. Two city fire engines, with sirens screaming, raced to the scene, but hundreds mobbed the engine, preventing the firemen from using the hoses. Ladders were torn from the engines, and carried away. The firemen finally extinguished the blaze on the hut roof with chemical extinguishers.

Train traffic in Pitt Street stopped, and trams were put out of action when poles were pulled from the overhead wires.