THE MORNING POST FEBRUARY 13 1913

THE SUFFRAGISTS SUPPOSED OUTRAGE IN REGENTS PARK

A fire, which is believed to have been the work of Suffragists, occurred in Regent's Park early yesterday morning, by which a refreshment kiosk was totally destroyed. The building was an artistic wooden structure, valued at between £600 and £700, which stood on the borders of the cricket ground, and not far from the Broad Walk. Shortly before seven o`clock in the morning flames and smoke were seen issuing from the building. The alarm was given and the fire brigade were quickly in attendance, but in spite of their efforts the flames gained the mastery, and the building was speedily burned to the ground. Several empty petrol cans were afterwards found near the ruins, and on the gravel path surrounding the building the words "Votes for Women" were roughly scratched.

The perpetration of the outrage mush have been a comparatively early matter. Regent's Park is patrolled by watchmen every night, but the detection of any suspicious person lurking in the vicinity of the kiosk yesterday morning would have been an extremely difficult task owing to thick fog. The Park was opened at five o`clock, and between that hour and the time of the outbreak there would have been ample opportunity for the incendiaries to make their preparations and depart from the scene.

Mrs Drummond, in an interview yesterday, on behalf of the Women's Social and Political Union, denied all knowledge of the matter.

MRS PANKHURST ATTACKED AT CROYDON

There were disorderly scenes yesterday evening at Croydon, where Mrs. Pankhurst addressed a meeting in a large public hall in George street. A number of Suffragists, who drove up in a motor-cab, were mobbed when they attempted to descend, and were driven back into the vehicle. Two or three of the women were badly hustled by the crowd, and only the timely appearance of the police saved them from being very roughly handled. Mrs Pankhurst arrived early, and Great crowds gathered outside the hall, and several missiles were thrown at the windows.

After the meeting the crowd tried to stop Mrs Pankhurst from getting away. She hurriedly entered a motor-car, the window of which is alleged to have been broken as she drove away. The police had a severe struggle with the crowd, and a girl who was mistaken for a Suffragist had a number of eggs thrown at her. It was not until after eleven o`clock, when the police had used force to disperse the crowd, that the bulk of the Suffragists were able to leave.

THE MORNING POST FEBRUARY 18 1913

THE MILITANT CAMPAIGN

Mrs PANKHURST, who presided at a meeting of the Women's Social and Political Union at the London Pavillion yesterday, referred to the golf course outrages. It was true, she said, that nobody was caught and nobody punished, but many people were much disturbed, and were filled with terror and consternation- much more consternation and terror than they would have felt if seven people or a dozen people, or perhaps even a hundred people, had been injured or been killed. They had realised that in modern times, in their present stage of civilisation, it was not human lives that mattered so much; it was property that mattered - enjoyment, sport, and money making. If they wanted to excite consternation and terror they must attack those. She went down to the country during the week-end for a rest. She rested in the week-end while others were working - (Laughter) - and she was rung up twice by indignant secretaries of golf clubs who wanted to know if something could not be done to stop what was going on. There was great indignation, she was told, and women members of golf clubs were going to be turned out. She was able to point out to the gentlemen who rang her up what a mistake in tactics that would be, because to turn out the women who had not done it in order to prevent those who had was not likely to stop it and was likely to aggravate the complaint. The security for their links would be not only to have women members but members of the Women's Social and Political Union.

Two greens on the Clonmel golf links were dug up with spades during Sunday night and rendered useless for play. This is the second outrage on the same links of late. The outrages are said to be due to agrarian trouble, and not to the Suffragists.

A meeting of the Women's Social and Political Union at the Chelsea Town Hall, to be addressed by Mrs. Pankhurst and Miss Brackenbury, has been extensively advertised for Friday evening next. The Finance Committee of the Borough Council, however, under the powers reserved to them by the conditions and regulations of letting, have cancelled the engagement and refunded the amount paid for the hire of the hall.