ANTI-DUTCH RIOT IN SYDNEY

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1947, Page 5

ANTI-DUTCH RIOT IN SYDNEY

Press Assn.

UNBERGRADS AND WHARFIES IN FREE FIGHT WITH POLICE

By Telegraph

- Copyright

Eeceived FridS.y, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY, July 25. Hundreds of people were involved in a riot in the eentre of the cily tli.s atteriioon when univcrsity students ai±d wharf labourers marehed to the Dutch Consnlate in Margaret Street to protest against the Dutch policy in lndonesia. The police snatclied Ijanncrs and paniphlets from the demonstrators and a iree-for-all liglit.started in wJiich severn] men were knocked to the ground and many were carried away bleeding. The stai'f oi' the Dutch Consulate on the eleventh floor of the building poured water 011 the fighters below, drenching polieemen and women univers.ty students. In the struggle at least two women students were knocked down and oue had her stockings and l'roek i*ipi)ed. A number of women in the crowd i'ainted. At oue stage it looked as ii' about 3000 peo])le would l)econie involved in the (iglit. Tlie crowd repeatedly counted out the police and shouied: "\Ye want peaee, not bashings." Speeial sqttads oi' police gained the upper hand after using in some eases the haunui- poles as weapons. While police were being rushed to the seene from all paris of the city the demonstrators were lighting with other police to block their entry. The students asseniblctl in.a nearby park and marched to the buildi!ig vvhere the Consulate is loeated.. More than 50 police rushed I'rom the building when a depTitation oi' students tried to enter. and vvithin a J'ew nnnutes the situation became ugly. About 20 dmiionstartors were taken to the police station. Fighting women strongly resisted when the police attempted to place them in a patrol wagon. All city and nearby police stations were asked to send every available man and all police patrol ears were rushed to the seene. AYaterside workers rushed to the assistance of the students fighting with the police. Fists and boots fiew as the demonstrators yelled and screamed. Oue constable striving to seize a placard was tackled low and upended. Other police came to his resdue and the standard-bearer was hustled into a patrol van. A plain clothes detective was tossed over the shoulder of a burly demonst rator and sent sprawling. Some demonstrators brokc frce I'rom the police and rau into the building, but they were headed off by other police. Even after police remforcements an-ived it took them an hour to clear the crowd and restore okder. A second riot threatened when the demonstrators held another meeting in Wynyard Park. At a signal the police rushed into the park trampling flnwer beds and shrubs, and manhandled the crowd of several hundreds out of the park. Some blows were struek but 110 further ai'rcsts were made. The demonstrators continued to gather in groups on nearby street corners under the ■ watchful eye of the patrolling police. Later a section of the crowd moved to King Street and a serious situation duveloped on the corner of Pitt Street, but police were rushed to the seene and the demonstrators moved to George Street. A eomb-out of nearby hotels was ordered when disturbances startcd in them. Following the students' clash with the police this afternoon 13 of those arrested were charged with offences which included olTensive behaviour and using indecent language. Two were charged with assaulting the police.