New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-02
Anti-Draft Rioters and
Soldiers in General
Battle
Missiles Hurled
From Housetops
Fighting Begins When
Horsemen Charge Crowd
of Disturbers

QUEBEC, April -Four civilians
were killed and four civilians and a
number of soldiers were wounded in
fighting which occurred tonight be-
tween anti-conscriptionists and the
military. One hundred men, charged
with rioting, were arrested.
The fighting between the military
and the anti-conscriptionists lasted
from $3.50 o'clock this evening until
midnight, the men opposed to donning
the khaki firing revolvers haphazard
from doorways, and behind snowbanks
and the military answering, as best
they could, through the thick fog with
machine guns.
Despite warnings from the military
that the rioting in Quebec would bs
gent appeals to the people not to re-
peat the disorder of the last three
days, crowds assembled in several
parts of the downtown section tonight
number of soldiers were injured
in the fighting and many rioters were
arrested. Early tonight soldiers were
ordered from barracks and stationed in
different parts of the city. The upper
st. Rochs, where the disorderly ele-
ment resides by line of troops. Four
hundred men of the I'd Central Ontario
Rifles, under Major Mitchell, were sta
toned at jacques Cartier Square. The
squadron of Royal Dragons under
Lieutenant Arnold, was also held in
readiness in the neighborhood.
Armand Lavergne, the Nationalist
leader, was expected to address a
meeting in this square, but respected
the military edict barring such assem-
blies.
Shots Fired by Rioters
A large crowd was on hand, however
The rioting began soon after the SOL
diers were posted. Bricks were thrown
from housetops and revolver shots
were fred from allcyways. The SOL
diers Immediately arrested seven men.
Several men took shots at the mill
tary and escaped into the mob. The
cavalry repeatedly charged the mob
with drawn swords, but the moment
the troopers backs were turned the
crowd returned
j., About a, hundred yards away, near
the Canadian Pacific station, the SOL
fusillade of revolver shots, bricks and
ice. Several soldiers fell in this at.
tack, slightly injured
After patiently bearing the bonn
bardment of the crowd, the soldiers re-
ceived orders to fire. A number of
shots were sent over the heads of the
mob near Jacques Cartier Square.
Red Cross Aids Wounded
AS the casualties began to occur, q
Red Gross dressing station was opened
ques Cartier Square, with Major Tassa
and Major Stamand, both of Quebec, in
charge. Here the men had their wounds
treated and were conveyed by am
bulance to the military hospital ON St..
Louis Street.
AS the evening advanced dense fog
settled down. The rioters, who had
been broken up by the infantry and
cavalry, gathered in doorways and fired
at random down the streets. The SOL
diers answered the shots whenever
they could locate the source, but this
method OF dealing with the snipers
failed to stop the shooting, so machine
guns were fired in the direction of the
revolver shots.
The soldiers bore their ordeal with
great calmness and fortitude. One
man, Leroy Johnston, of Toronto, shot
in the jaw. asked for leave to go on
duty again after having his wound
dressed, but the doctor sent him to the
hospital.
The rioters at 1O:3O o'clock caused
considerable inconvenience to the Fire
Brigade by ringing in false fire alarms.
At first detachments of soldiers were
sent to the scenes of the supposed fires,
but the officers in charge soon found
out the trick and after that ignored
the alarms. The men arrested all
stoutly protested innocence of rioting