FIERCE BATTLE IN SYDNEY EVICTION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 1

FIERCE BATTLE IN SYDNEY EVICTION.

POLICE MOW DOWN RED OPPONENTS WITH BATONS (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 17. The fiercest fight between police and Communists in the annals of this State occurred to-day at the suburb of Bahkstown, where one man was shot in the thigh and nine policemen and 'sixteen occupants of a house were injured in an eviction riot. Previous disorders arising out of the attempts of the police to evict defaulting tenants were bad enough, but were insignificant compared with today’s conflict. Met by a fusilade of stones and bricks, the police had to fight their way through barbed wire entanglements and s?pash tfec-doors of the particular cot44ge in order to gain admission against the sixteen men who were ifiside guarding the tenant’s furniture. Volleys of stones were thrown at the police .through the windows. Inspector White received a terrific blow on the head and dropped like a log with a fractured skull. The remainder of the police were hurt. Ambulance Works Hard. After bursting into the house the police who had escaped the missiles pluckily fought back with their batons and mowed down the anti-evietionists like nine pins, many of whom presented a woeful sight at the hospital, later. The, ambulance worked at high pressure removing the injured. The cottage bore grim testimony to the violent nature of the hostilities. Blood was in every room; every stick of furniture was damaged and every window was smashed. A tremendous crowd watched the proceedings and many free fights occurred among those who were discussing the merits of the case. Sixteen arrests were made. The police found a pile of Comrriunistic literature in the cottage, also piles of stones, heavy waddies, and pieces of pipe. The cottage had been guarded by the anti-evictionists for a fortnight.