Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-11-23
SUEFRAGETTEs ASSAULT AS
0UfTH.

Premier AsQuith was assaulted Icy
suffragettes in the precincts OF The
British House OF Commons yesterday,
and was saved from rough handling
only by the prompt arrival of strong
body OF police.
At q meeting at Ca1ton Hall Miss
Christobel Pankhurst characterized the
minister's statement rs wholly uusat-
isfactory and nothing more nor less
than an insult TO the cause. The
women, she shouted, considered the
premier's attitude declaration OF war
and they would answer the challenge
Immediately.
No sooner said than done. With
a rush the women emptied the hal!
and several hundred strong started
for Downing street. They cncoun-
tered Mr.. AsQuith en- route. and be-
fore the premier realized the situation
he was surrounded by irate suffrasettos.
1t was not long. before he recognized
that he was in hostile camp for with
out any preliminaries Miss Henrietta
Williams struck tho government lead-
er at the same time calculating:
You tax women as heavily as mon,
vet women are not represented in Par
lament"
Shrill police whistles brought officers
from all nearby quarters and rs the
women struggled among themselves
for the privilege OF getting at him, the
premier WIS hustled into taxicab.
AS the car started off with bound
Miss Williams made another attempt
to reach its occupant and in doing 50
put her fist through the glass OF the
car window. She was pulled away still
crying traitor" and coward"
The trouble did not end with the
escape of Mr.. AsQuith. Robbed OF
their special prey a big body OF women
broke through the police barrier and
reached Downing street. For time
pandemoniun reigned in the vicinity
OF the ministerial residences and gov
eminent offices.
Shriekiug women, many OF them
armed with bamboo poles that had
been used TO support banners, but now
served as lances, fought like amazons,
desperately attacking the police and
clawing and kicking to such good
purpose that the police line was broken
and the officers forced to temporarily
retire
Police reinforcements were hurried
to the scene and, throwing themselves
against the rioters, checked the adj
vance. Women and their male SYM
pathizcrs were hurled to the ground.
In many instances the officers literally
dragged the women out of the Tight
ing zone and thus saved them from
being trampled to death by the mob
behind. 1t was sometime before the
police succeeded in clearing Downing
street. A litter OF millinery. bits OF
clothing, handbags and torn banners
gave evidence of the fierceness with
which the field had been contested.
During the melee about 100 women
were arrested.
The roting continued into the even
ing when squads OF women attacked the
residences OF Sir Edward Grey. the for
eign secretary; Winston Spencer
Churchill, the home secretary and
Lewis Harcourt, secretary OF state for
the colonies. Stones crashed through
the windows of the houses, Sir Edward
Grey's bearing the brunt OF the attack.
One band spied August Birrcll, chief
secretary for Ireland, strolling through
St. James Park to the Athenaeunl
Club and swooped down upon the aged
statesman knocking Ills hat over his
eyes and kicking him about the legs.
When help came and the woman were
driven off Mr.. Birrell limped to his
motor car on the arms of policemen.
Mrs. Emmelcine Pankhurst, the
leader OF the suffragettes, was among
those taken TO Jail. Her sister, Mrs.
Grant, denied adnittance, throw u
missile through the jail window. She
also was incarcerated. Miss Grace
Johnson was the only American ar
rested