A SERIOUS FRACAS

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 7

A SERIOUS FRACAS

ITALIANS AND BRITISH. SEVEN SOLDIERS STABBED. NO ITALIAN CASUALTIES. A serious fracas between Italian and British Legation guards Is reported from Pekin. As the outcome of a brawl in a cafe, the parties got to blows, when the Italians snatched the British soldiers' bayonets from their, belts and attacked them. Seven were reported wounded, one seriously. Investigations established that the British were as much to blame for the affray as the Italians. (Reuter.) (Received Nov. 19, 10.30 a.m.) PEKIN, November 18 r A serious fracas occurred between Anglo-Italian Legation guards in a saloon in East City, when it is alleged a strong party of Italian marines armed with daggers, attacked an unarmed number of the East York Regiment, who recently arrived to relieve the Royal Northumberland regiment. Seven of the Yorkshires were stabbed, one dangerously. There were no Italian casualties. A number of the Yorkshires ari<! locals then allegedly, hunted for, Italians without success. The British troops are confined to barracks. SERIOUSNESS MINIMISED. THIRTY MEN IMPLICATED. ENGLISH HELD BLAMEWORTHY. (Received 1.30 p.m.) PEKIN, November IS. Investigation into the Anglo-Italian Legation Guards cafe brawl have revealed that if was not so serious as at first revealed. Fifteen participated on each „side and the English were as much to blame as the Italians. The latter snatched the Britishers' bayonets from their belts abd used them when the fracas commenced. The casualties were not serious and all the British with the exception of one have returned ;td d/ity. LOSS OF £2,000,000. > ON EMPIRE EXHIBITION. ESTIMATES GREATLY EXCEEDED AN INQUIRY SUGGESTED. (Reuter.) (Received November 19, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 18. The Daily Express says it is expected the guarantors, including the laxpayers, will have to meet a loss of. £2*000,000 on the Empire Exhibition. The people chiefly concerned are arguing that there should be an inquiry into the expenditure and edhstfu-otion accounts, which are still not completed. It is stated there were enormous excesses over the estimates. For instance the Stadium cost £600,600, which, it is believed, quadruples the estimate. A prolonged inquiry might not be necessary. One .similar to that held by Sir W. Joynson Hioks, when the management was changed, would be adequate if the findings were published. . ; ,