The Washington times., 1911-01-04
Taking of Three Anarchists
by 1900 Subject of
Public Press.
IMMIGRATION LAW
MAY BE CHANGED
Russian Exiles and Criminals of
Every Country Harbored, 1t
Is Claimed.

LONDON, Jan. "A whale was
used to catch a sprat."
This is the assertion today of the
London Express in criticising the in
ability of 1900 police, three compa-
nies of Scots Guards, and the fire de-
partment to checkmate handful of
anarchists until a pitched battle
lasting from early dawn until after
noon had been fought in crowded
section of the East Side.
Other papers voice the same criti-
cism, none seeming to understand
why such an enormous turnout of
police and soldiers was necessary.
What the press does no more than
hint at, the public is openly proclaim
ing: That London's police force
proved itself a huge joke in yester-
days stirring drama in Sidney street.
Only Three Victims.
Search of the ruins has revealed so far
only three anarchist victims of yester-
days fight. The report that there were
seven killed, six either by suicide or in
the flames of their burning retreat, and
one by the bullets OF the attackers, it
now develops was spread by the police
to help explain their apparent ineffi-
cheney.
Two of the dead anarchists were Fritz
Svarrs. known as Dutch Fritz" and
Peter, the Painter" The third has not
yet been identified. The body of Peter,
the Painter was not found until early
today. He was considered the ring
leader of the band of outlaws, and there
was much rejoicing when his identifca-
ton was made positive.
The betrayal of the Sidney street out
laws to the police came as a result of
their mistreatment of a slum girl, whom
they had enticed to the house. This girl
told one of her relatives, and he tipped
off the police. At an early hour Tues
day morning 300 police surrounded the
block in which the house was situated
and the fighting began at their first
advance upon the desperadoes: retreat.
Means immigration Reform.
one certain result of the fighting will
be stricter immigration laws for Eng
land. For years England has thrown
down the bars to practically all classes.
Political exiles, particularly from Rus
sia, have found England the one retreat
TO which they could fly with safety.
1t is now seen that this hospitality
has been rudely abused, and there is
universal desire for a new immigration
Law at the forthcoming session of par
lament. Home Secretary Churchill to-
day promised an immediate investiga-
ton of the question.
Stampede At Ruins.
When the body Of Peter was dragged
out today the excitement broke the
bounds of frenzy and the Gordon of
police about the ruins were swept back
before the stampede. Reserves had to
lie called out during the morning to
hold the multitude in check. The tops
of neighboring houses were black with
people, who watched the police and
fiTemen searching the ruins. Many of
them carried binoculars, which they
kept trained upon the authorities
Moving picture machines, taking photo
Rrarhs of the battles scene, clicked for
hours.
Fire Building Themselves.
The police investigation today estab-
lished the fact that the anarchists fired
the building themselves. going to their
self-inflicted doom rather than surren-
der themselves alive to the authorities.
Eviderce was discovered in the ruins,
which made this theory a certainty.
The British press today called upon
the authorities to drive all alien des-
peradoes from British soil Denouncing
the laXity which has allowed London TO
become a hotbed of anarchy, the press
also specially criticised the police for
allowing central London 10 become a
battlefield.
a great deal of mystery surrounds the
Pussian woman who is at present in
custody.
One theory current is that this woman
Is government spy who has been Iiy-
ing in the anarchist quarters, posing as
an exile from Russia because she took
part in a revolutionary movement there