Evening star., 1950-07-30
Belgian Police
'ChargeRioters
In BIoodyClas
Leopold Regime Toke.
Drastic Measures to
Curb Foes, Violence
BY the Assoeiofed Press

BRUSSELS. Belgium, July 29.--
Mounted gendarmes tonight
charged rioters at full gallop. with
drawn sabres. in the bloodiest
clash in Brussels since King Leo
pold III returned from exile week
ago.
Taking drastic new measures to
deal with the anti-Leopoldist riots,
the government ordered troops to
occupy power stations, telephone
exchanges and other places.
Two battalions also were re-
ported TO have been recalled from
occupation duties in Germany.
The pro-Leopold cabinet declared
a state of emergency in Liege and
banned all public meetings there
and in the Brussels and Verviers
areas.
CObblestones Torn Up.
During tonight's clash cobble-
stones were torn from the side
streets and rained down on foot
gendarmes just before mounted
police arrived, apparently In re-
sponse to single rifle shot.
A crowd numbering several
thousand was marching along the
Boulevard Anspach in the center
of the city when it encountered
lines of gendarmes near the
Bourse (stock exchange.
The gendarmes made the first
attack, charging the rioters re-
peatedly with their clubs. The
crowd replied with bottles and
cobblestones. Then the mounted
police were called.
The demonstrators sang French
revolutionary songs and howled
for Leopold's abdication.
Women Among Injured.
Ambulances carried off the in
jured rioters and at least one of
the gendarmes. There was no
immediate estimate of the cas-
ualties. Women were among the
injured. The face of one woman
was streaming with blood, and
one of her legs was torn open
from knee to ankle.
Four anti-riot noise bombs were
exploded by the gendarmes before
the crowd began to disperse. The
bombs are light explosives intended
to frighten but not to injure. BY
g pm. Brussels was in a state Of
siege. Tonight's crowd was far
larger than the morning gathering
had been ad seemed in an angrier
mood.
Violence was reported at sev.
eral other places in the country.
At Lessines stationmaster re-
ported saboteur had been killed
while trying to plant a bomb.
Demonstrators smashed store win
dows and marched with an efisy
of the king at Ghent. They threw
themselves across railroad tracks
at Mons in an attempt to halt
trains.
Army Units Reinforced.
Certain army units were ordered
brought up Immediately to full
war strength. A decree gave in
creased powers to provincial gov.
ernors, enabling them to seize
public buildings, ban meeting and
take other precautions.
With anti-Leopoldists busily
preparing massive march on
Brussels" for Tuesday, it did not
seem likely the government orders.
especially the ban on public meet.
1ngs, would be needed.
Housewives began forming
queues at Brussels stores, as if
laying in food for a siege.
The upheaval of strikes and
violence threatened to spread into
separatiSt movement and split
Belgium which is a member of
the Western European Union and
Atlantic Pact.
The Socialist LIE Peuple said q
states-general. or provisional Par
lament, would be called shortly in
Llege. center of violently anti
Leopold Walloonia. This report
heightened rumors that an in.
surrectional provisional govern.
lSee LEOPOLD Page A-60