A MELBOURNE RIOT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 January 1915, Page 4

A MELBOURNE RIOT.

CHINESE PREMISES RAIDED

A Melbourne telegram to the "Sydney Morning Herald" states that Little Bourke Street, the scene of many a jeonflict, probably never witnessed such a serious disturbance as that which occurred on the night of Sunday, December 20, in consequence of a certain sootion of the Expeditionary Forces being impelled by a desire to wreck the place.

From Swanston Street to Russell Street hardly a window which was not shuttered remained whole, and during the conflict, which in this quarter lasted for more than an hour, many ex» traodinary scenes were witnessed.

The first indications or the trouble were seen- early in the morning, when a largo number of soldiers congregated outside the shop of a Chinese, affirming that one of their comrades had been so severely kicked by the proprietor on the previous evening that i 4. liad been found necessary to send hini to Melbourne Hospital. Several constables advised the less riotous members of the throng to go home and to

linduqe their icomrades to disperse. Trouble for the time was averted; but the dishonour of having been kicked by a Chinaman evidently rankled so severely that the story become magnified until finally rumours were current that the injured man had died in the Melbourne Hospital. About half-past six o'clock in the evening a number of soldiers assembled in Little Bourke Street, and shortly afterwards a brick hurled through a plateglass window in Walach's furniture sliop The crowd then dispersed, but returned to the same place about an houalater, and there were then indications that the disturbance was more or ] ess organised. Several men carried bandages and Red Cross outfits to salve tho wounds of those who might oome into conflict with the police, and tho bugle call to assemble brought hundreds of men to the lane. Volleys of stones from all sides smashed windows. The police on duty in the vicinty were too few to cope with the disturbance, and reinforcements were hastily summoned from Russell Street. Troopers and foot constables arrived, and the constabulary, using their batons freely, made several arrests, and ran their charges through a lane cleared by the horses of the mounted men. It was several hours- before the disturbance was thoroughly quietened. Possibly it would have gone on much longer had not several of the more reasonable spirits.

the suggestion of a police constable, formed themselves into a deputation and gone to the Melbourne Hospital, where they learned that the only soldier who had died that aay had been a medical case admitted some days ago. The satisfactory news was soon noised about. Ah Hooie, a Chinese, who was injured during the affray, was treated at the Melbourne Hospital for a cut eye and and ( other minor injuries. Several men, including a soldier and a constable, were treated at the Melbourne Hospital for outs and abrasions-