The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-04
RIOT AND LOOT
BY HO0LIGANS
IN LIVERPOOL
Shops Wrecked and Police
Battled in Two Nights
of 0utlawry.
SOLDIERS PATROL CITY
Half of Police Still on Strike
Hundreds of Citizens Are
Enlisted in War.
SOLDIERS PATROL CITY
Social cable DespdtcA to THr Sun from tie
Loadon Times Service.

sp,c,ol cable Despdfch to THu Sun from tie
London Times Service.
Copyright. 1918. all ricAfs reserved.
rrvrppooI, Aug. s.-Centrai Liver
oool tonight, as result OF the police
strike. presents a war picture. as there
have been firing and death. Troops pa
troi the streets and vast crowds gather
ana gaze on the scenes OF an orgie OF
destruction last night. There are mill
tary iorries containing compliments Of
armed men awaiting any call that may
be made and grimmest and most signih-
cant Of all, several tanks.
Boot stores, jewelry shops and furni-
ture houses we're smashed, looted and
wrecked last night. London road to-
day is the Ypres OF Liverpool.
The trouble began late on Friday
night when several shops were wrecked
Hooligans Of the Scotland road and
dock areas took advantage OF the deple-
ton Of the police force and let them
selves CO. Last nights Developments
we're worse than was anticipated. for II
vas thought that the presence In town
Of 900 soldiers might have a salutary
effect Anarchy broke loose, and even
in Liverpool's unfortunate history of
strike troubles the position was APP
parently never more serious.
Citizens Are Enrolled.
The streets were crowded more dense
" than usual. Citizens were asked to
enroll themselves as constables. Sol
dlers were on guard at spots where dis
turbances were deemed likely and a con-
Don was drawn across London road,
where 1t faces st. Georges Plateau.
II was in London road that the storm
broke shortly before midnight, although
there had been reports OF earlier footing
in Scotland road, Great Homer street
and parts of West Derby road. The
first signal in London road was an at
tack on the premises of jeweller
where looters after smashing window
got away with valuables. Gangs OF
youths and young men proceeded along
the thoroughfare stopping first at one
shop and then at anotherl the air re-
souonding with the crash of the huge
plate glass windows. The looters car
red pieces of iron, heavy stones and
other missiles which they used to de-
molish the panes, while In some cases
doors were pried open with the ease and
ingenuity OF cracksmen.
The roadway was Uttered with goods,
from watches to costumers' dummies
1t was done quickly and only a short
distance from the guard of soldiers.
diers made an advance up London road
with bayonets levelled. The marauders
took TO their heels up side streets. but
with the most daring audacity quickly
came into the open again after the
troops had advanced up the road, and
resumed their smashing work. Mean
while a contingent of detectives and
specials on police duty arrived on the
scene and did excellent work in check
Ing the efforts of the looters. In one
melee a detective sergeant was severely
hurt.
Light shops to Loot.
As showing the daring of the shop
breakers 1t may be mentioned that GER
tain establishments were all in darkness
when attacked, but the men soon facili-
tated their own work by turning on the
electric light In order to md articles.
There was thus to be seen q picture Of
shops fully Illuminated. huge rents in
the windows and thieves passing from
one department to another. The mob
even made pretences to system in one
district. Rough looking women out for
) loot kept close to the youths and indi-
Gated which shops were likely centres
for spoil. Then the youths went upon
thar work OF spoliation. This was the
system adopted in the whole length of
London road.
Bayonet charges were the order of
ne night, for while events were going
forward in London road the Scotland
road and Great Homer street areas were
centres OF similar troubles. Many
shops principally grocers. boot and
clothing establishments. were being
sacked. and in this locality the sum
total of the damage and loot was on
far greater scale than on the previous
evening. So serious did the state of
affairs become here that a volley OF
rife fire was tried.
There was a "reminiscences Of trouble
this morning when a concerted attack
was made upon the premises of a firm
OF bottlers of Vauxhall road. Hun
dreds forced their way into the premises.
helped themselves to all kinds of avail
able liquor and soon many were over
come by their rotations. Handcarts
were forthcoming and on these stores
that could not be consumed were taken
away. Later children of the hooters
ventured into the streets in droves
and sold bottles of beer and stout for
penny.
For time the orgy could not be COM
oated by the authorities and the de-
run out and numerous looters were
left in drunken slumber in the streets
VolIeys Are Fired.
This evening in Love lane, in the
north end Of Liverpool. during a third
raid on bottling stores In this district
military lorry with soldiers came up
and caught the looters red handed. An
other body of soldiers arrived almost
Immediately and one detachment started
back for headquarters with the prisoners
In loiry. The prisoners were stoned
and mobbed by the crowd and warning
shots were fired. AS those did not have
the desired effect a further volley was
nred and one man fell badly wounded.
At mass meeting OF trade unionists
tonight attended by some 500 people, In
cluding soldiers, sailors and women. a
resolution was passed sympathizing with
The police and prison officers. some
unions declaring for strike policy in pro-
Jest against the Governments attack on
trade unions The Mayor tonight is
sued notice asking citizens TO enroll
as special constables for one month to
! protect lives and property. Warning Is
even that further disturbance will en-
tali the gravest consequences, as the
military powers will be actively used
\ oricial figures show that 929 Liver
pooi police are on strike and 952 on
/ uuty. Special constables to the number
OF ozO have been enrolled and numerous