The sun., 1917-07-29
WOMEN BATTLE
IN PEACE RIOT
Wounded Soldiers Also Join in
Attack on Church Meeting
in London.
spee.al Cable be.patch TO TIE Sun.

LONDON, July 2S.-Led by wounded
soldiers and women. a mob this after
noon stormed a church in which a paci-
fist meeting was in progress. broke UP
the meeting, injured a score or more
persons and virtually wrecked >the in
terror OF the structure. The pacifists
were stoned by men. women and chill
They belong to the newly organized
Workers and Soldiers Council. modelled
upon the organization of that name in
Russia.
Many OF the injured are hurt seriously.
The fght in the church was without
parallel in the recent history OF Eng
land Tonight the situation is far from
quiet and II is feared there will be fur
ther rioting tomorrow.
The meeting was to be for the purpose
OF organization and was called for the
brotherhood Church in Southgate road,
Hoxton w. C. Anderson, Member of
Parliament for Sheffield. was the only
prominent pacifist present Philip Snow
den and James Ramsey Mcdonald were
TO attend Sbut did not put in an appear
ance. They were scheduled for speeches.
However. a hundred or more OF the peace
agitators attempted quietly to enter the
little suburban church.
Streets Blocked by Mob.
The avowed object was to discuss a
social and industrial peace meeting set
~ o'clock Sunday afternoon. The
public had wind OF to-days meeting,
however and an hour before the time 1t
lz1
riving on the scene. found the streets
blocked with n mob that was anything
but friendly to the council" and its doc
trinea
The pacifists realized their danger and
gathered in the main auditorium OF the
church. They blockaded the doors and
windows and allowed other members Of
their organization to enter only after be-
ing subjected 10 careful scrutiny.
Despite the care taken In examining cre-
dentials. several soldiers either slipped
past the guards or forced their way in.
There were enough of these to howl
down the first speaker when he at
tempted to talk.
The crowd outside was growing more
and more restless and finally was stirred
TO fury by Canadian soldier who had
been in the building. He told the crowd
the nature OF the discussions inside, say
ing the speakers were trying to talk
peace and then shouted: THE church
is filled with pro-Germans :"
Barricade of Benches.
with cries to drag them out and stop
the traitors" women, men and children
rushed the rear doors, Those inside the
structure erected hasty barricades of the
church benches, managing to block the
rear passage. meanwhile budding under
the remaining pews or back of the pipe
organ. They were In state of abject
terror. A number OF newspaper men
attempted to leave the church at this
juncture, in order to file messages, de-
parting by the front door. They were
mistaken for members OF the Workers
and Soldiers Council, but finally man.
aged to get out in safety after the police
had come 10 their rescue and explained
who they were.
During this diversion, so diligently did
the peace advocates labor In the arts OF
war. that II seemed they had entrenched
themselves effectually in their citadel
The mob outside plainly was at loss
Then wounded soldier, barely able tc
raise his voice. but ending his words In
shriek, cahed stop this meeting
The cry from the man who very nearly
had given his life to his country' added
the fuel needed for the fre Some one
raised a Union Jack and the crowd
burst In at the front OF the building.
A general melee followed. Tables and
chairs were thrown in all directions
The would be speakers were hurled "a
the floor. The magnificent stained glass
windows were smashed and the ylass
clattered upon the cowed members Of the
council,
Police Efforts Futile.
Police reenforcements made a futile
attempt to get the delegates out un.
harmed One male delegate. his black
eyes iashins with indignation. came
from the front door OF the church and
THE SUN correspondent, standing near
him, heard him appeal to the authori-
ties for protection Two constables tried
I'm vain 10 hold back the circle OF women
that was pressing on the pacihst. After
n few minutes the police formed a
wedge and penetrated the crowd hui
| by this time the delegates practically
all had been dragged or driven out OF
| had escaped by side doors.
II was at this time that Mr.. Anderson
! the Parliament member. was spIed BY
the crowd. He dashed down the stree,
toward canal with scores In pursuit
When last seen he was attempting tC
defend himself from a storm OF blows
Back at the church the mob had
grown, the police vainly trying TO keet
It's members away from the paclhsts