CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

AFRICAN AFFAIRS.

.»**- sr __ BOMBARDMENT OF FORDSBURG. A HURRIED EXIT. -'7 MJSIItAJ.IAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. CAPETOWN, March 14. Huge crowds watched the bombardment of Fordsburg from the streets of Johannesburg. Prior to the attack, aeroplanes dropped leaflets over FordsInirg advising woman and children and those well disposed to the to leave and proceed to Show Ground. lA great exodus immediately commenced, the people streaming along the appointed route. Amongst them were fifty police, who were in the imprisone^^

area for several days.. Great confusion prevailed, there being many pathetic scenes. All kinds of transport were used to remove their belongings, including wheel barrows and perambulators. Those who were unable to secure vehicles carried what they cOuld on their shoulders, 1$ miles to the showground. Many also fled to Pohnnnesburg. There was nothing like such (i scene ever before witnessed in South Africa. Fortunately the weather was fine.

In the Legislative Assembly, the ax'ting Premier stated Fordsburg rebels had asked for an armistice. They were told that only an unconditional surrender would be accepted. They allowed the xvomen and children to leave but turned back all male adults. It was also announced that thousands had been captured or surrendered at east Rand.

MOTION OF SYMPATHY. CAPETOWN, March 14. Mr Malan, the Nationalist Leader in Cape Province, moved the adjournment as a mark of sympathy with the fallen men. The acting Premier declined to accept the motion, if it were intended to signify sympathy xvith the revolutionaries. Mr Malan disclaimed such an idea. The motion was defeated by 03 to 48, Nationalists and Labourites forming the minority. Last night an attempt was made to organise a procession in Capetoxvn, to express sympathy with the strikers, but the participants quietly dispersed when ordered to do do by the police.

At Durban, commandos entered the dock area with the intention of out the xvorkers, but they were diapers- " ed by the police who galloped through the scattered crowd. Trains and municipal services in Durban are being maintained, but all building trade employees are out.

THE BENONI FIGHTING. CAPETOWN, March 14 A special “Reuter” correspondent with General Van Dcx-onter’s forces, describing the fighting ill the Beiioni district, says: It started without the Reds knowing that martial law hfld been proclaimed. It is declared that n white man wounded a native, who then seized a rifle, and trouble then became general. Reds attacked the police on all sides. The police renulsed tbe attacks, but, as sniping continued the police raided the stirroutid■ng houses. Tbe police captured sixty non. They discovered = hildven among the snipers. The police were so exasperated that hey shot a supposed woman. Later hey found “her” to be a man in wonnii’s clothes Women, with white flags, sheltered .the men, while even the children formed groups round the men, to prevent their capture. Finally a few rounds of machinegun .fire by the police w r ere fired. These stopped the sniping. Meantime the Benoni .police and Colonel Burness’ relieving force joined General Van Deventer in' a frontal attack, with the bayonet. This cleared one section ofl the Reds’" defences'. Stretcher-bearers xvere unable to relieve the wounded. This was oxxing to the Reds pouring in a, murderous fire. Tlie wounded had to lie where they fell till the afternoon. This happened - on Sunday. Every house in the main avenue of Berioni xvas' fortified and barricaded. The military forces did not use their guns, fearing to lulrt the women and children. They waited till Monday to occupy the town. On Sunday night there was a wild orgy. Houses and shops were ransacked rind burned, and liquor stores were looted. Some drunken Reds were firing indiscriminately on women and children, or anyone appearing in the streets.

The Government forces entered Be* uoni at daybreak. All the Reds commandos retired. General Van Deventer then continued to advance on Brakpan, the Reds retiring in the direction of Heidelburg. According to the manager of the Brakpan mine, when a small -party of the defending party surrendered, a band of 90 men who had taken no part in the fight, shot the defenders at dose range, and battered their heads with pick handles. A police post gallantly held out, though riddled with bullets.

Brakpan iself suffered little damage.

An official message states that the whole of the Fordsburg area has been occupied by Government force. Armed resistance of every kihd has ceased. The casualties are slight on the Government side.

BIG GUNS AND TANKS. CAPETOWN, March i 4. The greater part of the population of Johannesburg City, from their roofs, from water-tanks, and from every other place of vantage, watched the fFordsburg drama,. Everywhere were to be seen khaki lines, intermingling with the police blue uniforms. The lines were interspersed with big guns, also machine guns and ambulances, while a tank was waddling down past the Stock Exchange, and° it completed the weird sight. There were shells and bullets whistling _ oven- the heads of the spectators when the Government forces rushed the houses. White flags then began to flutter. The infantry next went forward, and surrounded the Trades Hall. Then the fighting died down. The aeroplanes, however, continued clearing up the sniping posts. The infantry dealt with all stragglers inside their wide cordon, and finally a stream of strongly-escorted prisoners began to flow into Johannesburg.