ATTACK ON RUSSIANS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1919, Page 5

ATTACK ON RUSSIANS

WILD SCENES IN BRISBANE,

SOLDIERS AGAINST BOLSHEVIKS.

Brisbane, March 25. Returned soldiers attempted to raid the Russian Olub, but were prevented by repeated charges of the mounted police. During the disturbance nineteen persons were injured, eleven of them being police, including a magistrate and police commissioner.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Aasn Received March 25, 8.5 p.m. Brisbane, March 25. The attack on the Russian headquarters was accompanied by wild scenes. Police Magistrate Archibald and Commissioner of Police Urquhart received wounds through being forced by the crowds Upon the bayonets of the police in tho street, which at the time was in darkness. Urquhart received a severe thrust in the shoulder, and required medical attention. Archibald, who was wounded in the leg, stuck to his post until the attackers dispersed. This was eventually secured by the police allowing some of the ringleaders to visit Russian headquarters for themselves and ascertain that no one was present. Before tiiis was seoured the attackers forced their way close to the buildings, tore down palings, smashed the windows, and did other damage. The palings and stones were freely used in the course of the attack. A number of shots were fired, allegedly by the soldiers, many of whom are said to have been armed witli revolvers. A second attack was made on another building previously occupied by the Russian Club, wliiah was also considerably damaged. The demonstrations were frequently punctuated by threats of vengeance against the Bolshevik element.

The trouble was the outcome of Saturday's demonstration, when soldiers approaching the Russian Club Were threatened with tirearma. Prior to the demonstrations a meeting of returned soldiers and sailors passed a resolution demanding that the State and Federal authorities take immediate direct action to prevent meetings of Russian Bolsheviks in Queensland; otherwise the moeting would take action to quell the Bolshevik disturbances.—/i us. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. Received March 26, 12.45 a.m. Brisbane, March 25. It transpires that, besides wrecking the Russian headquarters, a section of the mob devoted its attention to the establishments allegedly kept by Russians. One shop and two boarding houses were considerably damaged by stones and other missiles. Several persons were injured by the falling glass.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FINN AND RUSSIAN DESERTERS. Received March 25,10.30 p.m. Sydney, March 24. Bolshevism is the main topic of conversation on the waterfront, where an increasing number of Finnish and Russian deserters from tho ships openly discuss their propaganda. They enlist sympathy by adopting the attitude that they desire to return to Russia, but are unable to obtain the Federal Government's permission to leave. The Government is considering more stringent action against the deserters. The Brisbane Russian Society consists of a thousand members.