The—much-heralded combined student and labour demonstrations against the signing of the Boxer Protocol 25 years ago failed mi ably yesterday, Although the agitators and students had made ample preparations for a violent ami conclusive issue the whole thing' fell through for two reasons—tho ous military policy of Col. Yen Chun-yang in the Chinese districts and the ample precautions of the Municipal and French police.
The morning demonstrations, which ended in Nanking Road about noon, were started in of the Public Recrea near the West Gate, which had been designated as a meeting place for the observance of the anniversary.
The Firm Hand As early as 8 o'clock student and Inbour parties had gathered on the roads leading towards the West Gate several parties of about a hundred leach being noticed in Boulevard des; Deux Republiques. By 930 am, about 1,000 had approached ther destination, which they were not. permitted to enter as several hundred soldiers, who had been stationed there an hour before dispersed them ]when their number became alarmingly large. The party became violent and demonstrative and the officer in charge of the military ordered his men to level their rifles. This hat the desired effect and the demo. strafers broke up into three major parti One crowd marched through the Native City towards the East Gate, where they proposed to stone foreign tram ears. They did not attain their objective. The other two groups approached the French Conleession in the vicinity of the Boulevard de Montigny and Route Capitaine Rabier, the first getting to Nanking Road at 9.55 a.m. The other was delayed for some time: and about on hour later turned into Nanking Road from Thibet Road.
The Wiser Course The leading party along the route! of march indulged in shouts and cat call and sang their slogans, "Down with Imperi on the Foreign Running Dos "Support, the Cantonese Nationalist Army," "Overthrow the Militarists in the North," ete.
"At the British Military Cemetery outside the" Chinese City and on the farther side of the Boulevard des Deux Republique they were met by two platoons of soldiers who thoroughly frightened them and caused them to throw their pamphlets- away: The demoralized rabble' then broke across the road and into' the French Concession.
From this place the agitators! trickled into the Settlement; some Parties coming up Chekiang Road Jand others up Hoopeh and other Parallel thoroughfares reachinz} Louza district about 10 o'clock.
The police took the situation in hand immediately. From the compound of Louza station, where men. had been stationed at an early hour, Chief Insp. Kerrigan despatched the regulars, reserves, Sikhs and Chinese to the most affected areas, The London Touch A distinctive means of breaking up mobs was introduced, that of, having mounted men to clear the roads and footpaths and proved most effective, for without actually riding the disturbers down, the {troopers were able to herd them into smaller parties which the men on foot could keep on the mov Chinese reserves from Gordon' Road were broken up into mobile upon Which was mounted a light machine gun went to the corner of Chekiang: and Nanking Roads. The riot gun motorcycle squad were called out others remaining Louza and Central stations, The services of the Fire Brigade, which was held in readiness jin the Louza compound, were not required, the police being perfectly able to handle the situation, Several companies of the 8. V. C. had been mobilized since 7 o'clock, but they. too were not called into action, The mob on this occasion was: composed of younger students, together with many girls and 9 sprinkling of labourers, and seemed to be without the efficient leaders lof previous demonstrations, Instead of throwing bricks and stones, the mob contented themselves with shouting slogans and attempting obstruct traffic, The girls were quite violent and, because of their sex presented a Tormidable difficulty for the police, who could not handle! them as they could men,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.