SOLDIERS AND PEACE CRANKS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3021, 7 March 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND PEACE CRANKS

MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD MARCHED OUT. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., was recently marched out of a peace meeting at Walthamstow by a body of soldiers who took possession of tie meeting.

At the outset there were .protests against the Co-operative Society allowing peace cranks the use of the hall. "I have two sons fighting for you and Mr. Mac Donald," one protester said pointedly to the chairman. Mr. V. M'Entee, of, the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters. •

Mrs. Philip Snowden was speaking amid considerable interruption, when the soldiers came on the scene and proceeded to give vent to their views on peace cranks. 'Replying to Mr. Bamsav Mac Donald, one soldier,' shouted, "Go and talk that stuff over 011 the Somme." Apoarently to the chairman, another man in khaki shouted, "There are older men than vou in the Army; go and do Tour duty."

By this time the meeting was in the hands of the soldier'!. They nislwl. tb" platform and marched Mr. MneDonnld and his supnorters out into the street. Mrs. Snowden had escaped earlier. Clearing peace cranks out of the hndy of tlie hall led to a number of free fights. Speeches by soldiers followed, and the audience lustily sang "Rule, Britannia," and other patriotic airs.