UNPARALLELED SCENES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 34, 9 February 1934, Page 5

UNPARALLELED SCENES

FAMOUS PLACES LOOTED. DEMONSTRATION AT BOURSE. FARIS, Feb. 7. M. Frot declares that the mob’s spirit was unparalleled since the revolution producing the Third Republic. Cabinet has decided to charge the ringleaders with treasonable activities and provoking to murder and incendiarism. Twent.y magistrates throughout the night took private depositions which are believed to include the names of several politicians and ex-Premiers as ringleaders. Further accounts of the rioting disclose that the mob attacked famous places like Claridge’s Cafe, Weber, and looted all shops in fashionable thoroughfares in the neighbourhood of the Rue de Rivoli, Rue Royal, and Champs Elysees. All shops and Government buildings are now strongly' guarded. M. Frot received a deputation of exservicemen and war victims, who presented a manifesto declaring their anguish and indignation at last night’s scenes. It adds that the demonstrations were simply staging the “Marseillaise” and marching in the streets as a protest against the scandals daily revealed, when tho Mobile Guard surrounded and repelled .them, wounding and killing several without provocation. It declares that the demonstrators were unarmed, but after such provocation will come to-night ready to defend • themselves. i The employees of the Bourse stopped work at 1.45 in the afternoon and I shouted uninterruptedly for a quarter of an hour, “Daladier to the gallows!” “Murderer!” Vast crowds in the Place de la Bourse joined in. The police looked on smiling. Suddenly the giant letters of an illuminated sign flashed out, “Daladier resigns.” This was received with thunderous cheers, after which the Bourse resumed work. M. Daladier in a statement said:

“The Government is responsible for order, but refuses to assure order today by exceptional measures, which might involve bloody suppression. The Government does not wish to employ soldiers against the demonstrators and consequently has resigned.’’ A message at 3 o’clock in the afternoon states that rioting recommenced in the Boulcvardc Hausmann, where police arc dispersing the mob in pursuance of the prohibition of street assemblies.