RIOTS IN PARIS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXII, Issue 62, 9 February 1934, Page 3

RIOTS IN PARIS.

MANY CASUALTIES REPORTED FIERCE FIGHTING. PARIS, February 6. Violent rioting occurred in the Place de la Concorde, the Rue de Rivoli and other important streets. The crowd set fire to the Ministry of Marine, but firemen extinguished the blaze within half an hour. Mobile police fired several volleys. The fiercest fighting occurred at the Place de la Concorde, especially at the bridge, which 10,000 ex-servicemen attempted to cross, advancing with the skill of men familiar with trench fighting, according to the “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent. Guards’ hoises were blinded by sand being thrown in their eyes. Finally the Republican Guards ’ trumpeter sounded warnings, equivalent to the reading of the Riot Act in England. Immediately the Guards, with drawn swords, charged. In a terrible melee the rioters used knives to hamstring horses, and wrested swords from fallen mounteds and used them for attack. The number of deaths is a matter for conjecture. The “Action Francaise” says that 50 were killed, “Le Journal” between 20 and 29 and the United Press Association between 16 and 17. The police state that 700 were arrested, of whom 40 were detained. Some hospitals are so crowded that the injured lay in corridors awaiting treatment. It is considered that the total injured cannot possibly be less than 1000. DEPUTIES' APPEAL. TO PUNISH THE GUILTY. PARIS, February' 7. The Deputies’ appeal, which was posted on every wall in Paris, reads: “On the morrow of the terrible 6th February, which is a tragic date in the history of Paris, we respectfully informed the President that the Daladier Ministry’s resignation was necessary, and that a Government of Public Safety should be formed in order to punish the guilty and repair the injustice. We believe the appeal has been heard; therefore, mourning Paris will be able to weep over her dead in profound peace.” M. Daladier is supposed to have said when resigning: “Power is not worth such sacrifice. I won’t have young soldiers firing on the crowds.” BACK TO NORMAL. PARIS, February 8. Everything is now normal. A huge crowd enthusiastically cheered M. Doumergue at the railway station.