New-York tribune., 1911-01-04
REAL BATTLE IN
L0NDQN'S EAST END
Foot Soldiers, ArtiIIerymen and
Hundreds of Police Attack An
archist Stronghold for Hours.
THOUSANDS SEE SPECTACLE
Besieged Building, Bnrned Down,
Revealed Charred Bodies of
Two Men Believed To Be
Police Mur6lerers.
tBy Cable to Tn, Tribune J

tBy Gable to Th, Tribune
London. Jan. "A Iurid bit of melo-
drama worthy OF the widest West OF
the United States has been enacted in
the suualid East End.
Desperadoes. suspected Of being the
anarchist murderers Of the police in
Houndsditch, we've trapped in the up
per stories Of a. house in the White
chapel district, and were besieged hour
after hour b. large body OF police re-
inforced by a detachment OF the Scots
Guards from the Tower of London, until
the roof Of tho burning structure fell in
and they pe-ished In the flames
The alleged anarchists opened FIRE on
| the policemen when the house was en-
tered and their bedroom invaded
The policemen retired and the reserves
were called UP. until the hiding place
was surrounded by 1900 men and
| firing squad of sixty soldiers with ma
chine gun
The besiegers fred volleys from the
back yard and street. and random shots
from roofs and windows, and the opera
tions were watched by large crowds
from daylight until afternoon.
/ Photograph Trapped Men.
The alleged anarchists occasionally
returned the shots and were photo
graphed by camera men from the news
papers when they appeared at the win
dows.
The soldiers were stationed in a brew
cry mailing house and fred voleys with
as much precision as though they were
fighting in a military campaign.
Sir Melville MacNaghten. Assistant
Commissioner OF the Metropolitan Po-
lice. was In command of the large at
tacking force, and the Home Secretary
Winston Spencer Churchill. was on the
ground at midday personally directing
the operations.
After series of sorties and ruses the
fusillade was suspended. for the smoke
and flames were enveloping the upper
windows and the criminals hiding place.
Either the garrison in the house had
/ deliberately set the building on fire or
explosives had been ignited by ram
dom shot After a momentafy lull po-
lice Gordon was formed and revolvers
were drawn so that the prisoners could
be shot down II they should endeavor to
escape.
Crowds See the Battle.
The crowds of spectators increased as
the cloud of smoke rolled upward and
Y random shots were fired at the windows
One of the alleged anarchists was seen
5 fer q moment lying wounded cn e Led
= and not long afterward the roof fell in.
A considerable force Of fremen was
r allowed to approach the house and con-
troll the flames, and when 1t was safe
I for them TO enter the windows the
5 charred bodies Of two desperadoes we're
2 found, but they were unrecognizable.
If these were the Houndsditch muir
I derers of the brave policemen whose
S memory was honored by a service at 81.
$ Paurs Cathedral, they had defed for
many hou-s we'll trained body OF be-
siegers and had perished after one Of
D The most desperate and sensational bat
ties known in the annals OF crime.
one policeman. one soldier and three
. civilians were wounded. the marksman-
= shin OF the alleged anarchists being less
accurate than was the case at Hounds
y ditch.
;, Five fremen were injured b. the COLI
=, Iapse of the walls Of building. and the
: condition of one man fs critical.
: The Home Secretary. Mr.. Churchill, in
stead OF taking refuge in his office be-
q hind coils OF red tape. was one OF the
7 most active skirmishers on the ground
a and almost as headstrong and reckless as
g when he was taken prisoner while act
I ing as war correspondent in the Boer
{ war.
h The opinion is expressed that the tragic
e termination OF the affray has not ex-
s hausted the possibilities OF further de-
d velopments. It is hinted that other per-
s sons may be found to be implicated In
the conspiracy and further sensations
l. NAV be in store in some quarters.
s II Is believed the alleged anarchists
n were maturing plans for the coronation.
/ when. presumably. most of the crowned
e heads OF Europe will be here.
y Details OF the astounding affair fill
y MANY columns Of the newspapers, and
le are illustrated by daring photographers
! with realistic snapshots. The press men
! were close behind the firing line and
>. shared the risks of potshots from the
- windows
,r Warning TO Criminals.
id Their pictures will serve to convince
,ncredulous Britons that pitched bat
" ,Ie has been fought with murderous an
n archists In Whitechapel. and that thou
ID sands Of idle spectators looked on while
ID two prisoners. caught like rats in trap.
r were burned to death
~ The commonest comment heard on the
r s,rsets and in the clubs may not appear
III IN nrint. 1t is an expression OF salts
r faction that the foreign criminals, VINO
n are accustomed to fight police and sol
u d,srs with arms in their hands. have
"a heen warned that England is not safe
III re,nee for them. and that they are liable
% he hunted down and exterminated like
% foul vermin.
20 The Unionist newspapers are endeav-
or,ns 10 make political capital out OF the
~ oocnsinQ OF