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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 10. September 20th, 1949

Blue Fury

Blue Fury

The crowds have been herded behind portable wooden fences. The marchers are not able to maintain their groupings: students, war veterans, former prisoners of war, concentration camp inmates, all have been pushed together into one huge mass.

A whistle blows. A mass of blue uniforms, capes flying, suddenly seems to be unleashed like a pack of hounds. What was a moment before a relaxed group of policemen is turned into a mad fury, whirling white nightsticks and long wooden clubs, cracking skulls left and right.

The crowd manages to unknot itself; some escape into side streets, others find refuge in doorways.

A whistle blows again. The police turn and hurl themselves upon the crowd gathered to watch the first charge. Women are thrown to the ground, men are clubbed. The whistle blows a third time, and the clubbing stops. The police return to their ranks, relax, light cigarettes and begin chatting with each other.

Up and down the broad Avenue des Champs-Elysees, this is happening at 20 intersections.