EERIE STREET BATTLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 217, 7 May 1932, Page 5

EERIE STREET BATTLE

(Press. Assn.-

SCREAMS OF WOMEN MlNGLE WITH SHOUTS AND CURSES EFFECTIVE POLICE TACTICS

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The main clash between the police and the rioters was carried ont in the frosty darkness of early morning. It was an eerie sight. The screams of q group of . women who were well to the front of. the black mass of humanity were combined with the smashing of glass, the hooting and cursing of men, and the sound. of rushiiig feet as the men pursued the tram along Fitzgerald Avenue,. A large' crowd of men who had been held up by the police at the corrier of Fitzgerald Avenue and Moorhouse Avenue extension broke through to follow their companions in the wake of the tram. Behind them came the police, led by Inspectoi' Cameron who'se loud command to draw batons diverted the attenfcion of th'e attackers to this new turn : of affairs. "Call out the specials!" came the sharp command, and in a few seconds an army .of steel helmeted men dashed round the corner of the board's workshbps, and ru.shed pellmell at the head of the black mass. Over in Ten Minutes There were curses and cries of surprise as the police and their voluntary assistants came to grips with the men, who were sternly ordered to move back. The order was aceompanied hy blow&, kicks and baton thrusts in cases where retreat was too slow. The affair was over in a few minutes of rapid action, and the surprise routwas completq, The rioters many of whom took to° their heels as soon as they glimpsed the army of police, were rapidly forced back over the intersection of Ferry Road where the crowd thinned out. The men made a quiek retreat in many directions, and a considerable force of police followed the remnant north along Fitzgerald Avenue. The remnant of the routed army met another detachment of rioters, who came in the opposite direction to find out what was afoot. Their turnabout was precipitate, and the last of the rioters disappeared with the first cold streaks of dawn.