SERIOUS FIGHTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1049, 17 November 1903, Page 3

SERIOUS FIGHTING.

MANY KILLED AND WOUNDED,

(Per R.M.S. Sierra at Auckland,

Madrid, Oct. 29,

General Velasco, tho military commandant at Bilbao, tolegraphs to the Government that at daybreak this morning the garrison occupied all the strategic positions with a viow of protecting tho banks, public buildings, factories, and markets, and especially tho Jesuit and other religious houses, which tbo rioters are determined to attack. General Velasco reports that

I tho cavalry repeatedly charged tho rioters in tho old part of tho city. Some of the riotarß woro killed and many wounded. Revolvers and stones and other missiles, Gonoral Velasco adds, were used by the I rioters in their struggle with the soldiers. Tho principal railways are under the protection of the troops. Trains continue to run, though with extremo caution. All othor traffic in an outside of Bilbao has been stopped. A number of miners came in to-day and joined the strikers. Tho military foroes are considered sufficient to check incendiarism and attacks on property, but both the garrison and police aro kept constantly on the alert to prevent fresh outbreaks. The Governor has received numerous offers of assistance from local organisa- ,

tions and leadings citizens, and even the Socialist loaders are offering to advise tho rioters to refrain from violence.

The Government has replied to General Velasco approving of his energy and offering re-enforcements, Several thousand men are held in Madrid and othor towns. It is believed here that the movement in and around Bilbao is assuming proportions of social revolution, planned by Socialists and Anarchists, as was done in Barcelona two years ago. Premier Villaverode has determined to establish order at any cost.

Newspaper reports of the disorder in Bilbao represent the strikors as having established a reign of torror. This morning they attacked and pillaged the market stalls and shops, and gorged thomselves j with food and drink, aftor destroying what they were unable to consume. They proceeded to erect barricades in tho streets. As there woro only 5000 troops in Bilbao re-enforcements were urgently summonod. Tho infantry charged a number of barricades, the strikers defending them with reckless courage, and desperate fighting ensued. Five rioters were killed and many wero wounded. It is rumored that many of the soldiers were wounded by revolver shots.' As tho barricades were captured they wore destroyed and tho riotors wero expelled from tho majn streets by cavalry, who ohargod with drawn sabres.

According to the latest accounts received here rioters have again started to pillage the shops, and aro endeavoring to raise new barricades. Some fears are entertained that the rioters will unite in force and attack the troops before re-en-forcements arrive. The strength of the soldiers is being weakened by tho constant alarms and the necessity of detailing the patrols to guard tho factories and convents, against which the fury of the mob seems to be equally divided. All work in Bilbao is at a standstill, and tbe Govern' ment has prevented telephonic communication with the city. In the Chamber to day Premier Valiaverde confirmed tho report that in Bilbao the troops had carried barricades at tho point of the bayonet, and tbe rioters had defended them fiorcely with stones and firearms. He appealod to tho House to postpone the discussion on the matter. Premier Viliaverdo read a new despatch from Bilbao announcing that many had been v/ounded in the cavalry charges on the barricades. Tho riotors were prevented from attacking tho rosidonces of the Jesuists. In replying to an interpellation in tho Senate the Minister of the Interior, Garcia Aliao, refused to discuss the domands of tho strikers, and declared that the situation demanded rigorous measures. During the fighting which took place in the stroets this afternoon five strikers wore killed and a largo number were wounded.

The fighting was started by a rioter shooting from a window while the infantry regiment was passing. The soldiers thereupon charged the crowd. Many persons, including a captain, were killed.

In yesterday’s rioting a woman was killed and a score of people were wounded. The troops wore guarding banks and public buildings, and aro occupying strategic positions throughout the city in order to prevent the massing of strikers. As a result of the strikes foreign consuls have • demanded from the military authorities protection for tho ships of their nationality now in port.