MILITARY RIOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1918, Page 6

MILITARY RIOT.

BATTLE AT SYDNEY KAILWAY STATION. SOLDIERS VERSUS POLICE. Sydney, Feb. 27. One night last week there -was a riot at Sydney Central Railway Station, culminating in a pitched battle between a considerable body of soldiers and a force of military and civil police. No one was killed, but several men were severely injured. It was believed to be more than a coincidence that the outbreak occurred exactly two years after the great Soldiers' riot, which ended in fatal shooting', of February IC, 1916. The latest riot had no military or political' significance. It was the outcome of a vendetta, as old as the war itself, and common to all places where soldiers do most congregate—the ceaseless feud between the soldiers and the military police. There is a big force of military police in Sydney, keeping, watch constantly over festive soldiers and wrongdoers in khaki; and, of course, there Is everlasting war between them and the more unruly spirits among the troops. A train goes out from Central Station to Liverpool Camp every night at 11.30, and it generally carries a great many soldiers. So the gradual gathering of about 200 on the night of the trouble caused no comment. Suddenly they formed into fours, and, amid howls, shrieks, and catcalls, inarched on to the tramway departure platform. formed into fours, they produced from their pockets blue metal, beer-bottles, and the handles of 'entrenching tools, showing that the demonstration was premeditated.

Other soldiers poured in-irom all directions and joined the main body, who became more and more excited, singing, and making a fearful din. A great crowd of amazed civilians quickly gathererl. The uproar attracted the attention of a squad of seven military, police. There are generally from 25 to 30 of them on duty at the station, but on this occasion they were much under strength. The arrival of the military police set a match to the tinder. They were met by the roar of 300 angry soldiers and a fusillade of metal and bottles. A section of the soldiers charged. The crowd of civilians scattered, in a wild panic. The screams of women, the shouting and yelling of the soldiers, the flying missiles, created pandemonium. A bottle, thrown with' much purpose but poor aim at a police* man, hit a civilian and bowled him over. Ho was severely but not seriously injurcd.

The outnumbered military police were pushed back quickly to the main platform, being meanwhile savagely attacked from three sides. The men carried sidearms, but the corporal in charge would not allow them to be used. He plnckily endeavored to reason with the rioters, Things were going badly for them, when the civil police intervened. Two constables joined the military police and tried to quieten the soldiers. 'But it was no use. "We'll kill them," howled the mob, and the sentiment was heartily cheered, and the police were shoved and jostled. Men were striking savagely at the military police, who were beginning to be considerably knocked about, and the constables took prompt action. Both men drew and levelled their revolvers, and threatened to shoot unless the attacks on the military police stopped. The businesslike appearance of the big blue revolvers, and the menacing faces behind them, sent the crowds of interested civilians scampering wildly for cover. They remembered vividly the scene of two years before, when bullets —whose marks may still be seen—hummed through the big station. Although there were hundreds of soldiers, and but two revolvers, the unwinking stare of the two grim muzzles had a marvellously soothing effect. The hatred of the military police was forgotten; each man suddenly wanted to get behind another man, and call threats from that shelter. The police lost no time. They pounced on the two ringleaders and rushed them off the station. Thereupon, the row flared up again, and, for a moment, looked ugly; but more police appeared, and the soldiers, lacking their leaders,, were driven on to the Liverpool platform, loaded into their train, and despatched into the night. The militaiy police, by this time, presented a sorry appearance. They all bore bruises and abrasions, their uniforms were torn, and their faces bleeding. There is no doubt that they were only saved from serious damage by the civil police. The ringleaders were "dealt with* by the military authorities. The squad of military police at the station is not like-, ly to again fall below strength.