Evening star., 1946-10-09
$4,000 Rome Rioters
Battle Troops and
Police for 3 Hours
One Killed, ~ Wounded
As Veterans, Refugees.
Workers Demonstrate
BY the Associated Press


ROME, Oct. 9.-Police and
troops using tanks and armored
cars fought for three hours be-
fore the Viminale Palace, seat of
government, today with demon
strators led by workmen protest.
ing their dismissal from a public
project. A government commu-
nique said one person died of
injuries and 70 others were
wounded.
Police announced earlier that three
had been killed and leaders of the
10000 to 10000 demonstrators as
serted that at least eight were slain.
Scores Of bullet marks pocked the
palace.
Government officials and the head
Of the Italian Communist Party,
Palmiro Togliatti, retreated from
a palace balcony, where they were
attempting to quiet the angry mob,
when pistol shots were fired In the
air.
Socialist Leader Bruised.
Pietro Nenni, Socialist leader and
minister. suffered minor bruises
when the crowd showed him around
as he walked among the demonstra-
tors trying to paeify them.
The workers ranks were swelled
by homeless war veterans and ref
ugees from camp on the edge of
the city.
At one time, some members of the
throng penetrated the palace as far
as the Office of Premier Alcide de
Gasperi, but were pushed back after
they had smashed furniture and
windows elsewhere in the building.
A government communique early
this afternoon said SO Of the demon-
strators and 20 policemen were in
jured. 1t did not specify whether
the dead man was an officer or
rioter.
The announcement said posters
announcing the termination of the
works project for Saturday "had
been enormously" put up during the
morning. Actually, the 'communique
said, authorities were working on a
plan for new project which would
absorb the unemployed.
Crowd in Ugly Mood.
The crowd was in an ugly mood
when it arrived at the palace for the
third straight day. and its temper
grew steadily uglier. The workmen
from the public works department
were due to be discharged Satur-
day.
Several in the crowd were heard
to shout as the police moved upon
them: This is no better than
FaScism"
Shortly after noon, truckloads OF
soldiers arrived to reinforce the
police and became the target OF
abuse and imprecations.
Many of the injured, including
policemen, were reported in a seri-
GUS condition.
Entrances to Square Blocked.
The soldiers and carabinieri,
weapons at the ready, stood shoul-
der to shoulder to block off en-
frances into the square before the
palace and began forcing the crowd
slowly back. One of the armored
cars circulating through the crowd
opened fire and there were three
loud explosions that sounded like
hand grenades.
In momentary panic, the demon
strators broke and fed. They re-
formed ranks quickly and resumed
resistance to the advancing forces
Of the law.
The homeless war veterans and
refugees had come largely from the
Cinecitta camp on the outskirts of
Rome
Earlier in the week, demonstra-
tions against the approaching layoff
had been held by small groups. The
climax of club swinging and violence
came today.
The demonstrators arrived at the
palace without clubs for the most
part. Some ripped off branches off
trees. Others snatched several
weapons, including submachine guns
from policemen Part of stone wall
collapsed under their onslaught.
The mob threw some policemen
from their horses and bounced
fSee ROME, Page A-6.)