BIG RIOT IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3199, 25 September 1917, Page 6

BIG RIOT IN LONDON

MOST SERIOUS isiNCE THE WAR BEGAN OVER A MEETING OF PACIFISTS The most serious riot in London during; the war took place on a recent Saturday, at tho Brotherhood Church, Soutbgate Road, Islington. Hero a. conference had been called of the London_ and Home. Counties ' District of the Workers, and. Soldiers' Council to endorse the decisions of the Leeds Convention; to appoint a representative on • fae uatioual Proyiswial Committee, and to submit resolutions which had previously been announced ij the Press. Before the conference could open, a crowd,/headed by upwards ot twenty Canadian and New Zealand soldiers, broke into the building, attacked a number of the delegates, wrecked a, schoolroom and a smaller adjoining room, and damaged the pulpit and organ gaUeiT in tho church. Tho first rush mada by the mob was slopped by stewards, and the door was barricaded by pued to ™ s from the inside, hut bricks and otner missiles shattered a large fanlight and several feet of the woodwork of the door. A civilian, undeterred by the ]agged class tried to climb through the broken fanlight, but was -o heavily the walking-sticks of the defenders that he had to retreat hurriedly.

Attack on the Schoolroom. . After a vain attempt to ior.ee wear way past the stewards who defended this door, the attacking party smashed-Hi the doors aaid the windows-small «a-mond-shaped panes with a framework of: tead-rf the schoolroom. Two civilians,, who were the tot to enter, were attacked by stewards and driven out again, .ut others pressed in at each of the four windows* and at the twe.doors a** £ few minute a gewral fight.was m proj mmm mounting the rails of tho oigan gauery, S^eHeTaf^^ from the organ gallery. Upturned tables and chairs.

began an appeal to give^ everyDooy itsit me msssm pereua'ffug all to leave.

Mob in the Streets. As the delegates began to leave by the was sufficient to drawupon I™*"* damSuring the riot owing to-the hostile at titude of the crowd.