DUTCH POTATO RIOTS. SCENES IN AMSTERDAM.

CROWDS FIRED ON. ROTTERDAM, Tuesday (3.16 p.m.).

In the early hours of this morning 2,000 soldiers from the country districts in Holland were drafted to Amsterdam in order to try to master the serious situation brought about by the rioting on a great scale which took place in that city last night. The trouble arose from the lack of potatoes, in regard to which the municipal authorities had decided to hold up the supplies already arrived until sufficient quantities were available to afford an equal distribution to the whole population. From an organised street demonstration the affair developed into a wild series of plunderings and riots, in the course of which the crowds at certain points obtained the mastery over both police and military. The use of sabres was followed, first, by bayonet charges, and then by rifle salvoes, in the course of which at least one man was killed and many were wounded.

The focusing point was the Kattenberg, a kind of island district, which the rioters held against the authorities. Using paving stones as ammunition, they repelled repeated sabre and bayonet charges. It was not until this morning, when many of the people had dispersed, that the police were able to advance.

The most significant feature of the trouble is contained in the following message from my Amsterdam correspondent:

“One contingent of soldiers, who advanced in the direction of the scene, appeared to be somewhat sensitive to the pressure exercised upon them by the crowd not to use force. They were probably Amsterdammers; many with homes in the neighbourhood. When the officers saw they could not rely upon these men they marched them back to barracks.

“In the course of the night a conference between the Burgomaster, the Chief Commissioner of Police, and the Military Commander resulted in about 2,000 soldiers, chiefly from the provincial districts, nearly all farmers’ sons, and therefore regarded under the circumstances as being more reliable, being ordered to Amsterdam. Those troops were sent to the affected districts, and took possession of the vegetable market.”

The vegetable market, where the rioters were yesterday in force, was this morning a scene of wreckage, the ground being strewn with potatoes, which people had seized, but were unable to take away. At other places warehouses had been broken into with battering-rams. This occurred where were large quantities of potatoes awaiting shipment to England. Here the people made desperate rushes, against which the police were powerless, so that the whole lot was stolen.

As was the case here last week, there is no question in these outbreaks of any political feeling against England, the potatoes being looted wherever found, irrespective of destination.