WILD SCENES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1941, Page 6

WILD SCENES

RIOTING IN JOHANNESBURG ? ... . p FOLLOWING ON REPUBLICAN MEETING. ! TEAR GAS AND BATONS USED BY POLICE. ! (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m. i , JOHANNESBURG. February 2. Wild scenes were witnessed in the heart of Johannesburg early in the morning, when a thousand < police, civilians and soldiers were involved in serious riots, as a result of which 140 persons, mostly soldiers, have thus far been taken ’ to hospital. The police used tear gas and made I several baton charges. Armoured : cars toured the streets in the mornling and quiet was itstored by 11 a.m. ! The trouble can be traced to a ineetI ing of the Ossewsbrandwag on Friday. I The disturbances began when soldiers ■on leave attacked a man who was thought to be a member of the Ossewsbrandwag on a tram-car. General rioting followed. Shop windows were broken, cars were wrecked and a police van set on fire. Soldiers unsuccessfully attempted to reach the Ossewabrandwag office, in the Transvaler Republican newspaper building. They then ran round the building, breaking plate glass windows. Bricks were also flung through the windows of the "Vaderiand." General Herlzog’s newspaper, damaging machinery. Theatregoers were caught in the disturbances when they were at their height. Police reinforcements were sent from outlying towns, the first National Volunteer Brigade was called out and troops were summoned from military camps.