POLICE TURN OUT TO QUELL STUDENT RAG.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 4

POLICE TURN OUT TO QUELL STUDENT RAG.

LONDON THEATRES FORCED TO CLOSE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON’, December 13. Oxford and Cambridge Rugby enthusiasts over-reached themselves in ragging in the West End after their annual match, which was won by Cambridge. Amazing scenes of disorder occurred in two theatres, and the managers were obliged to lower the curtain an hour earlier than usual. The rag rontmued in the streets, and several arrests were made. The undergraduates practically took possession of one theatre and invaded the stage so that it was impossible for the artists to carry on. The orchestra and others in the theatre walked out after being attacked. .Hundreds of glasses were broken. Fire hydrants were torn from the walls and the corridors flooded, and missiles were hurled at the stage. The management returned hundreds of pounds to patrons who demanded their money back. Several women complained of damag ed dresses. The police were summoned and threw out several young men in evening dress. After that wild scenes were witnessed in Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, men clambering on the roofs of taxicabs and attempting to force an entrance to restaurants and night clubs, which hastily closed their doors.