Troops and tanks were called into action late yesterday to quell a renewed outbreak of anti-Jewish rioting here by Endeks (Nationalist Poles) which lasted nine hours.
Many Jewish pedestrians were wounded, houses raided and shops plundered during the violence which accompanied a huge Endek demonstration. After a full day of virtually unchecked excesses, troops and tanks arrived at five p.m. and dispersed the rioters. A delegation of Jewish leaders arrived in Kaunas today to intervene with the authorities.
Similar excesses had broken out just prior to the Lithuanian occupation. One Jew was killed and several others wounded. Russian troops arrested the riot leaders. The disturbances were repeated on Sunday following the occupation by the Lithuanian army and the rioters were dispersed by Lithuanian police.
Meanwhile, on the frontier between Lithuania and Nazi Poland, 1,000 Jews from the Polish district of Suwalki were expelled into the “no-man’s-land” area between the two countries without food and adequate clothing. They included many children, some of whom were reported to have died from exposure. Following intervention by Lithuanian Jews, the authorities allowed entry to 20, and hope was entertained that others would be admitted.
A relief committee, under the direction of the Joint Distribution Committee, has started distribution of 10,000 meals and clothing to the poor. The J.D.C. will begin distribution of money to refugees on Thursday.
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