New-York tribune., 1918-11-28
Police Ready
To Stop Riots
With Bullets
Enright Says Soldiers and
Sailors Will Be Fired
Upon if Necessary

Socialists Of New York, undaunted
by the attempts of soldiers and sailors
to break UP two meetings, sent out a
call yesterday for another gathering in
the New Star Casino, Park Avenue and
1o7th Street, at o'clock tonight.
Police Commissioner Enright has in
formed the Mayor that the police are
going to stop rioting, even if they have
to use machine guns on the uniformed
men.
The committee in charge of the New
Star Casino meeting says the object of
the gathering will be to give thanks
for the revolutions in Europe.
Socialist leaders said yesterday that
attacks of the soldiers and sailors had
been inspired by "moneyed interests"
which were trying to smash the Social
ist movement by terrorism.
Enright Writes Protest
Commissioner Enright's threat is
part of correspondence made public
yesterday by Mayor Hylan.
The correspondence included q writ
ten protest to the Mayor by the COM
missioner. The threat that clubs, re-
volvers and machine guns, if necessary,
would be used by the police to quell
disorder and lawlessness, was for
warded to the military and naval au-
thorities with request from the Mayor
that immediate arrangements be made
to keep the soldiers and sailors under
control.
The request was mailed yesterday to
the Secretary of War, the Secretary of
the Navy, Admiral Usher, commander
of the Third Naval District, and Major
General Bell, commander of the De-
partment of the East.
Stern Measures Promised
The communication, in part, follows:
at has been the custom of the po-
lice of this city to show extreme
courtesy to the men in uniform and
we have always expected that they
would reciprocate by conducting
themselves in an orderly and lawful
manner.
Unfortunately, the soldiers and
sailors assume that while they are in
uniform they are privileged to con-
duct themselves as they please.
Their recent conduct, however,
makes it necessary for me to appeal
directly to you and to advise you of
the imminent danger to law and or
der not only in New York City, but
in other large cities where soldiers
and sailors in great numbers are al
lowed the freedom Of the city with
out restraint.
ut has now become necessary for
me to issue orders to the police to
accord the same treatment to the
men in uniform as to citizens when
they become disorderly and incite
riots.
Control OF Soldiers Urged
"The sympathy of the people is
with the soldiers and sailors because
of the noble and patriotic service
they have rendered, but until the
Federal authorities make some other
arrangement the citizens Of New
York expect the police to deal with
the soldiers and sailors the same as
any other persons who act in a dis
orderly and unlawful manner.
IL appeal to the Federal authori
ties to make immediate arrange
ments whereby the soldiers and sail
ore are kept under control while
they are in uniform and until thew
are discharged from the army and
navy"
Commissioner Enright's letter to
the Mayor, written Tuesday, follows,
in part:
"The continued lawless conduct
Of uniformed soldiers and sailors in
this city calls for immediate atten-
tion. and respectfully recommend
that strong protest against their
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