FIERCE BATTLE IN QUEENSLAND TOWN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 278, 19 July 1932, Page 3

FIERCE BATTLE IN QUEENSLAND TOWN

(Press. Assn.-

' HUNDRED INJURED DESPERATE AFFRAY BETWEEN UNEMPLOYED AND POLICE. knives and clubs used.

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

BRISBANE, Monday. A hundred men were injured, many seriously, in a pitched battle between the police, aided by citi- ■ zens, and a number of nomadic imemployed, led by Communists' on the Cairns Showgrourids. The unemployed were armed with knives, staves, nulias pierced with nails, and other weapons. What are thought to be bombs were thrown at the police and ciiizens, but the mlssiles failed to exploie. The Cairns ambulance toolc seventeen of the most. seriously injured combatants to the hospital. Some are tn a serious condition. Negotiations have been coridueted for two months to get the campers to leave the grounds to enable prepaia.ions to be made for the annual show. The men refused offers oi temporaiy accommodation until after the s. ow when they could return to the buildings, and ignored an official ultimatum to get out by yesterday. Ihe ii. st ciash occurred when tiae poLee, who tried to separate the men of opposmg sides, were attacked, and three were felled. The police then pursued the attackers, aided by the townspeople, and a battle began. The fighting was of the most desperate chaoracter. Weight of numbers caused the unemployed eventually to fiee into the bush chased by the erowd wialding batons and poles. Four police were admitted to the hospital and several unemployed sustaineu broken arms.