The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-19
LONDON POLICE
IN BATTLE WITH
LABOR RIOTERS
Demonstration in Downing
Street Follows Attempt
) to See Premier.
so PERSONS INJURED
Clubs, Fists and Stones
Used as Weapons Against
Mounted Force.
UNEMPLOYED IN PARADE
Lloyd George Promises Pro-
aramme Of National and
City Assistance.
UNEMPLOYED IN PARADE

LONDON. Oct. 1S.--A demonstration
this afternoon by several thousand
men out of work who attempted to lay
their grievances before the Prime Min
lister, developed into n fierce battle be-
tween the police and the demonstra-
tors, which ragged in Downing street
and Whitehall for more than an hour.
Clubs, fists, stones and loose building
material served as weapons. but not
shot was fired.
The demonstration, which had no re-
lation apparently to the strike OF the
miners, was finally broken up when a
large force Of patrolmen and mounted
police which had formed Gordon at
the entrance to Downing street scat
tered the mob up and down Whitehall.
Fifty persons were injured during the
trouble, a score OF whom were sent to
hospitals.
TIE mounted police were compelled
to draw their sword sticks and ride
into the surging throng, part OF
which stampeded into adjacent side
streets. breaking down fences and iron
ratings. They made repeated charges
before the demonstrators gave up the
attempt to enter Downing street, where
the official residence Of Premier Lloyd
George is located.
Denomination Prohibited.
On Saturday the announcement was
made that demonstration of unem-
ployed and former service men and
women, which was scheduled to be
held this afternoon in Trafalgar square.
at the base of the Nelson monument.
would be prohibited.
When the prohibitive order was is
sued the men decided to march in along
the Thames to theaaeigtiborhood OF the
Parliament buildings as common meet
ing place. AT three o'clock this after
noon the embankment for distance
Of several hundred yards was pammed,
each delegation bearing banners with
such inscriptions as: I'VE have done our
bit. Now do yours I'VE want what
we fought for-work and living wage"
There was delegation of women in
the throng. Their banner was inscribed:
"Unemployed female war workers"
Ii had been agreed to have the bor-
ough Mayors constitute deputation TO
go TO the Premier's official residence in
Downing street and present the case of
the men and receive the Governments
reply. While they were on this mission
the paraders, some of them singing.
started off toward Whitehall. During
the march a number of red flags made
hA nrnn al lon
reached the entrance to Downing street
it was met by a strong Gordon OF patrol
men, three or four deep.
Police Anger Marchers.
Lmpromptu orators among the leaders
OF the marchers addressed the crowd.
which faltered momentarily and then
attempted to press onward. At this
moment mounted patrolmen appeared
to reinforce the foot police. There
we're angry shouts from the rnarchers
and soon the stones began flying. The
mounted men drew their short, sword
like riot sticks.
This seemed to arouse the ill-temper
of the marchers, for they surged for
ward again and seemed on the verge
of breaking through the barrier when
an order was given to the police to
charge. Then came a mad scramble In
the front ranks OF the marchers, who
turned and stamped wildly into those
behind who were still pressing forward.
workmen who were completing the
permanent cenotaph In the centre OF
Whitehall to commemorate ''our glorious
dead" were caught in the mad rush and
carried along with the retreating crowd.
The demonstrators found tho building
materials about the cenotaph veritable
ammunition. They passed to pick UP
stones. boards. bits of broken concrete
and other missiles and throw them at
the pursuing horsemen. From White
hall Gardens, which flank one side of the
broal thoroughfare. there were repeated
fusillades OF missiles Ono OF the red
flags carried In the procession was
jammcd through a window OF the Privy
Council.
II required more than an hour Of care
fui manmeuvring by the police before
the crowd was dissuaded from Its in
tention of reaching the Premier's door
step.
Clubhouse IL Looted.
When the crowds were pushed pack
from Whitehall several hundred persons
rushed tho Junior Army and Navy club
house near by and entered the building
ana carried away books and papers from
,,a library and kits belonging TO MEM
h.-s which were taken from lockers
Af,er being elected they hurled stones.
breaking many windows In the club
house.
The Red Cross ambulance brigade had
a nusv time bandaging bruised heads or
treating persons who had been bowled
over by the police -Four policemen were
among those taken to hospitals. Numer-
GUS arrests we're made.
In his reply TO the deputation which
waited on him Premier Lloyd George
announced that the Government has APP
pointed a strong Cabinet committee to
Continued on Strth Page.