FIGHTING IN LIVERPOOL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 45, 15 August 1911, Page 5

FIGHTING IN LIVERPOOL

MOB STORM THE POLICE. A FIERCE BATON CHARGE, r: THE RIOT ACT READ. MANY CASUALTIES. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Received 14, 9,30 p.m. London, August 14. Liverpool police sought to remove bodi« youths from a dangerous position on a window-sill. This was the spark that started a riot, lasting all the afternoon and well into the night. There were ugly rushes on the police, who were a small force and unable to clear Lime street, and had to seek refuge behind the iron gate at the railway station. The mob resisted baton charges with sticks, stones, bottles and bolts, and hand to hand fighting ensued. The mob stormed the station, burst in the gates, and demolished a hoarding, using the pieces for weapons. The railway staff kept the rioters at bay with a fire hose until the police were reinforced. The mob attacked the reinforcements with renewed energy, and the Riot Act was read.

SCORES OF MEN FALL. STREET RESEMBLES A SHAMBLES. BARRICADES ERBCTED. GUERILLA WARFARE. Received 14, 10.40 p.m. London, August 14. Detachments of Scots Greys and the Warwickshires appeared, and the police charged.. Scores of men fell under their truncheons. Showers of bricks and bottles fell and injured the police, who were carried to ambulances in the rear. The street resembled a shambles.

St. George's Square was cleared of rioters, who reassembled in the Islington district. Here they erected barricades and lit fires in the street, which impeded the mounted police. The rioters from the housetops rained bricks on the police. They also attacked the firemen who were quenching (it is supposed) incendiarv fires.

The hotels are closed. The hooligans retaliated by smashing the windows of shops and hotels.

A van containing ginger beer was seized, and the bottles used as ammunition. A hundred and fifty civilians and forty police were treated in the hospitals, after first aid had been rendered at tihe station, which was converted into a field hospital. There were broken limbs and ugly head wounds. A policeman's jaw was smashed by a bottle. Another will probably lose a leg. Superintendent Bolton was critically injured. Guerilla warfare in many thoroughfares continues.

BRITISH PEOPLE'S STOMACHS. RAILWAY MEN SEETHING. FIGHTING IX LIVERPOOL. Received 14, 8.30 p.m. London, August 14. The railwaymen are seething with unrest. The storm centre is at present at Manchester, where a general railway strike threatens to-night, unless the men's demands are granted. The goodshed employees and carters of the Great Western Company at Bristol Tesolved to strike for higher wages and the revision of hours.

The Leeds men next Sunday will consider the advisability of a general strike. The Great Central Railway engineers demand an all-round increase of four shillings weekly; otherwise they will strike. Two thousand men are involved.

The London railwaymen have decided to strike on Saturday unless a settlement is effected.

Mr. Tillet stated that over 90 per cent, ■will return to work to-day, and boasted that they had got at the British public through their stomachs. The Transport Federation advise members only to work with men holding a Federation ticket. Employers state they will not refuse to employ non-Federationists. Fifty thousand attended the trades union rally, organised by the Xational Transport Workers' Federation.

SERIOUS DISORDERS IN GLASGOW. THE POLICE ATTACKED. Received 14, 10.40 p.m. London, August 14. Serious disorders in Glasgow were followed by a mass meeting of tramways strikers. The police and tramway officials were attacked. Many were injured. Tracks were obstructed by stones, and cars derailed and the windows smashed. A hundred and fifty cars were damaged. GREAT INTEREST STILL PREVAILS. London. August 13. A general resumption of work is expected on Monday. Although there are a number of misunderstandings with regard to the precise terms of the agreements the factories are re-opening. The railway carters declare that the awards do not affect them, and the carters of the five principal railway companies have struck. Great interest prevails in other avocations, and there are numerous small strikes.

There is virtually military rule in Liverpool. Large quantities of provisions blocked at Edgehill Station liave been released by the military, and hundreds of lorries, many driven by the merchants themselves, and escorted by Scots Greys and Warwickshires, obtained possession of the produce. The strikers were not demonstrative. WHAT THE STRIKE COST. 'IRAVE POSITION JN MANCHESTER. London, August 13. The week's strike has roughly cost London £1,500,000.

Thousands of window-dcaners have ■truck. The situation at Manchester is grave. Eight thousand goods raihvaymen have ceased work, and five hundred portere and cleaners struck to-day. The men have no particular grievances, but are acting out of sympathy with others. Liverpool butchers are closing, owing to the meat famine. The cotton industry is seriously affected. GLASGOW TRAMWAY SERVICES SUSPENDED. London, August 13. At Glasgow strikers detached a trolley wire and smashed a number of cars. Twenty were arrested. A partial service is being maintained. Inspectors and other officials under a police guard are working the trams. The tramway service is entirely suspended in Glasgow.