The sun., 1919-05-03
Casualties Heaviest Among
Policemen, Who Are Blamed
by Socialists.
UNIONS PLAN PROTEST
Disturbances Deeply Deplored
by Public Opinion-Plac-
ing Of Blame.


to-day that three persons had been
killed and several hundred injured in
yesterdays May Day demonstrations.
" the injured AS were policemen. one
OF whom, sergeant, was stabbed In
the back. He is not expected to live.
Twenty-eight civilians were severely In
1ured and moro than 200 were slightly
hurt There we're $50 arrests.
American ambulances did efficient
work In picking up the wounded, the
American Red Cross attendants being
cheered by the crowds.
Ono Of the Incidents OF the day &C.
Cured at the Invalides bridge. where an
American Lieutenant Colonel and two
junior officers were stopped by dra-
goons when they attempted to cross the
river. After n parley tho Americans
were charged upon by some cavalrymen
and In the melee some shots were fired.
During a clash between the police and
a crowd in Place de Ia Bastille, in which
twenty persons were wounded, a police
man shouted to the mob, "If you want to
fight go TO Versailles and fight the Ger
mans"
The mob took up the cry OF ION to
Versailles" and a diversion was created
which averted more serious fighting
Foreigners were prominent among those
engaged in the demonstrations, and the
police declared tonight that virtually
every other leader in the crowds was
either Russian, Spanish or a member Of
some other alien race.
The Socialist Deputies held a long
meeting this morning and decided to
congratulate the workers for their dis
play of power in the complete cessation
OF work May Day. and also to protest
against the "ambuscade" prepared by
IA 4. ant o..
In which tho Ministry's attitude was
shown by tho "old time policy of bru-
tally which might have produced the
gravest consequences but for the cool
ness and high conscientiousness of the
soldiers. The meeting decided to inter
pellate the Government on the subject.
The Government has announced its
readiness 10 accept tho Interpolation
any day after Tuesday. when the
Chamber OF Deputies will reassemble
after the Easter recess.
Deputy Marcel Cachin, writing in
Hunlonite, says the day was a "magnif-
icent demonstration Of the power and
discipline OF the laboring classes, and
was marred only by tho brutality of the
ferocious police
He emphasizes the fact that the SOL
ciers used no violence. and that there
was no trouble where they were on
duty.
The responsibility for the disorders
was entirely due to provocation by the
police. who wers acting on orders from
Premier Clemenceau. He alone is re-
sponsibie," NJ. Cachin says
He recommends that the Premier read
Ills own magnificent speech in the
Chamber of Deputies in 1891. condemn
ing an exactly similar action by the
TIT tn
The United Trades Union OF the De-
partment Of the Seine has issued a
strong protest against the violent ac-
ton of the police. exercised by order OF
the Government, against a manifestation
which would otherwise have been carried
out with tho same order as the morning
meetings"
Declaring that many women were
among the victims the union has de-
cided to call a meeting of the general
council of the organization TO consider
the attitude 1t will adopt in view Of the
days events.
The Prefecture of Police maintains
that the police had no bail cartridges in
their revolvers and that no ammunition
was issued to the troops, the few shots
fired consequently having come from
the demonstrators
The disturbances are generally de-
plored by public opinion. Before the
war. IL is pointed out. such incidents as
the day brought forth would have
seemed trivial in comparison with those
Of other May days, but 1t Is considered
deeply regrettable that after 90 much
French blood has been shed on the
battlehelds any more should have been
spilled on the streets OF the capital.
The blame Is variously apportioned by
the press. according to the political COM
plexion of the newspapers. Thus the
conservative organs, such as the Figaro,
lay 1t all upon the labor people. while
the newspapers opposed to Premier
Clemenceau. such as L'Oeupre, are in
clined to agree with the Socialists. that
there would have been no trouble II a
demonstration had been permitted In
Paris such as those held in the suburbs
and in the provinces.
The Petit Pdrisien says that through
out the country the laboring classes dis
played their feelings in dignity and or
dor and that 4 few incidents OF violence
should not be permitted to wipe out
the satisfactory impression thus given.
The elements always present in large
movements OF this sort should be taken
into consideration in placing the blame
FOR the disorders the newspaper adds.
The persons who were arrested dur
ing the disturbances will be tried by
court martial