ANTI-PEACE RIOT IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3150, 31 July 1917, Page 5

ANTI-PEACE RIOT IN LONDON

SO-CALLED WORKERS AND SOLDIERS' COUNCIL DISPERSED. London, July 29. A large crowd, headed by many soldiers, attacked the Brotherhood Church m North London, whore a pence conference by a so-called Workers' and Soldiers' 'Council had assembled. Iho pacifists barricaded tho building and fought strenuously. Tho crowd broke the windows with brjcks and stones, and portions of iron railings were used by both, sides. Mounted police unavailingly tried to intervene, and ultimately the doors were forced. There was a wild scene outside. The furniture was smashed and tho delegates flung from the platform. Several were injured. The inside of the building was completely wrecked. Mr. W. Anderson, Labour M.P. for Sheffield, who intended to preside, and Mrs. Philip Snowden (wife of Mr. Snowden, M.P.) escaped during the melee. Soldiers and sailors broke up a similar conference at Newcastle.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Bee. July 30, 5.20 p.m.) London, July 29. The "Soldiers' and Workmen's Committee" pacifist movement is receiving scant encouragement from the Labour unions; the public is united against them aud recognised Labour leaders are also opposed. The only members of the House of Commons are Messrs. Anderson and Snowden, with a handful of pacifists supporting them. Seventy wounded persons were treated after Saturday's fracas in London. A meeting at Swansea was broken up and the pacifists chased and compelled to surrender their weapons of defenceUnited Service.