BATTLE WITH STUDENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8145, 23 May 1906, Page 7

BATTLE WITH STUDENTS.

400 WOUNDED. A riot in whioh at least two per sons were killed aud about four trandred injured occurred at Bucharest. Roumania', oa March 26th. The riot was precipitated by a bodv of Roumanian students, who were determined to prevent the performance of a French play at the National Theatre, whioh wbh to be given for philanthropic purposes by the "Obolul" Benevolent Society, of which the Crown Princess Mary is the patroness. As the protest of the Chauvinist party against the Prenoh language was disregarded by the authorities, the students decided to prevent the performance by force, and at six o'clook they occupied the streets surrounding the theatre, ■•.When the police attempted to disperse the students, they were driven of? by volleys o£ stones. A company of infantry was then ordered out, but the mob barricaded the square in front of the theatre, with ohairs and tables from a neighbouring caf, and even overturned tramcars for the same purpose. The soldiers were ordered to charge the mob with Hxed bayonets, but they were driven back by a volley of stones and revolver oliots. Then a number of students attacked Jthe infantry witn fireworks and coloured rockets were thrown amonhg them, severely burning a number of soldiers Cavalry were summoned, and on the arrival of a squadron infantry flred volleys against the barricades. The students responded in fore, and the battle raged until after nine o'clock. It Despite the desperate resistance of the students, the troops slowly cleared the barricaded territory. They first stormed the cafe, whioh was used by the students as headquarters, and then the barricades were demolished. Serious hand tohand fighting occurred before the mob was finally scattered. Although only two students are ■said to have been killed, it is blei&ved the death-roll will be much higher. More than a hundred arrests were made. The French play was not performed, and the theatre was used as a hospital for the first-aid treatment 'Of the wounded.