The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-05
BRITAIN ASHAMED
Of BIG Street
BATTLE
Police Criticised For Attack on
Anarchists
NO NECESSITY FOR TROOPS
Larger Sales Of Papers in London
Than When King Edward
Died


of London appears TO be, after days |
reflection that marshaling of a great |
force of police and military to des- |
troy little nest Of outlaws was a
mistake. A number of provinced pa |
pers, too, criticse the authorities
sharply The Manchester Dispatch |
yesterday said that Engllshmen have
been made to appear ridiculous and
that the affair is one which the coun-
try will be glad to forget. The i'm
preston is gaining ground that the
policemen should have dealt with the
business, without calling upon the
soldiers, and that the summoning OF
the horse artillery was particularly
unnecessary move.
Nothing has since developed to es-
tablish that more than two men held
the tenement against several hundred
police, two half-companies of Scots
guards from the Tower of London, a
detachment of horse artillery with
two machine guns and gatling gun,
and fire brigade, to say nothing OF
the tens of thousands who lent their
moral support expressed in vociferous
cheers 1t was reported that during
third body in the ruins but this Is not
true. Only two men are known to
have been killed
The police had located according to
their belief, Peter, the painter" and
Fritz" in a lodging room on the top
floor on the tenement house in Sidney
street Some of yesterdays critics
point out that, instead OF walking up
stairs, kicking in the door and taking
their men or taking whatever any Of
flcer is likely to get in the discharge
Of his duties, they summoned the land
lady from the upper floor and then re-
connoltered about the house until
they drew the fire of the anarchists
from the windows of their rooms.
The battle finally ended in the
burning alive of two human beings
within the sight of as many Of Lon
don's thousands as could crowd upon
the adjoining rooftops. The extent
OF the popular excitement aroused by
the unprecedented exhibition will be
better understood In the light of the
fact that the circu alton of the Lon
don newspapers of Tuesday evening
and yesterday morning was greater
than at any previous time since the
critical stages of the Boer war were
heralded in the capital. Surprising as
II may SEEM the papers sold in Lon
don Tuesday night and again yester-
day morning far exceeded the num-
Der disposed of on the day of King
Edwards death.
The presence OF the horse artillery
although their guns were not brought
into action, seems to irrltate many
more than any other incident. There
is some mystery as to who was res
ponslble for the employment Of the
military. Home Secretary Winston
Churchill, who personally directed
the operations of the combined forces
during the latter part OF the seven
hours battle Is credited generally
with having authorized or approved
the unusual measures taken. For q
time pubic concern over rumors OF
anarchist plots Matched in London
appears TO be overshadowed by the
discussion OF the manner in which
two suspected anarchists were dispos
ed Of
Yesterday great crowds swarmed
about the dingy East end street which
Tuesday was the scene OF battle un
paraleled In the history of London'I
police department. The police whC
have been greatly overworked during
the past rs hours, had their hands full
In keeping the streets open to traffic
while the detective department pur
sued It's investigation into the Rus
sian Anarchist colony with unremit
ting energy.
During Tuesday night the polio,
thoroughly overhauled the ruins o
the tenement house on Sidney street
where the outlaws made their las
stand and were shot or burned 4
death In the fight with the police ant
soldiers.
The cain apparently is establishe,
that the building was fired by the des
peradoes. II IL thought that whei
the trapped men found their ammunl
ton nearly spent and escape impos
sible they set fire TO the building AM
committed suicide. No papers wer
found throwing light on the opera
lions OF the gang II Is believed tina
they found refuge In the tenement o
December 20 aud that they were be
friended by neighhors. Peter IN
painter" and Fritz" were member
OF the anarchist club which met noa
sidney street until recently The pS
lice were aware Of the activities q
this club. but considered them onl
political A member Of the club VIII
gave the police clew leading to IN
attack Tuesday, said Neither Pete
the painter nor Fritz ever shove
signs OF doing any honest work Bot
attended meeting, the object
which was to protest against the ex'
cution OF Prof. Francisco Ferrer, IN
Spanish teacher who was convlcte
OF revolutionary activities. thin
that both used anarchy as mas
for their crimes II Is estab'ishe
that women were associated with N
gangs operations Three women, b
lieved 10 have been connected wit
the crimes. are now In custody.
The casualties reported from Tue
days battle are Ave policemen, a sc
geant Of the Scots guards and hal
dozen spectators wounded by the bu
lets. the most Of them slightly, an
two hremen seriously and three ar
mon aliRhtiv injured In the collapl