ARRESTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 14, 16 January 1914, Page 5

ARRESTED.

TRADES HAbL SURRENDERS. CAPE STEVEDORES OUT. PROVINCE OTHERWISE QUIET. RAND MINERS UNCERTAIN. TO-DAY WILL DECIDE. (By CaWe.-Press Association.—Copyright.) CAPE TOWN, January 15. Last nighi a large and menacing crowd made a demonstration in the street near the Trades Hall at Johannesburg. After many stones had been thrown, the mob was forced back by the police with fixed bayonets. Two men were bayoneted. None of the police were injured. A number of arrests were made. The police force round the hall, from which the red flag continually waves, now numbers 200. Mr. Rain, one of the strike leaders, who is now in command of the strikers in the hall, describes the condition of himself and his bodyguard as excellent. The neighbourhood of the hall has beeii cleared, and a close cordon of police with fixed bayonets placed to prevent any access. Mr. G. Mason and many other leaders are inside. It is the apparent intention* of the pojjce to keep them there quietly. GARRISONED. There are 200 or 300 men fully armed inside the hall determined tp resist all attempts at a storm. The police do not yet intend raiding as those inside are as good as in gao!. The hall is completely isolated. LUfhr., water, and the telephones have been cut off. A correspondent, who crawled in at the back over the roof 3 and passed the strike pickets with a strike permit, found a remarkable scene inside. The inmates are all fully armed, and expressed themselves determined to resist all attempts at a storm. All the windows and doors have been barricaded by boxes filled with bricks. Places have \ been left for rifle firing. Other boxes i are standing ready full of ammunition. The defenders are living chiefly on fruit, quantities of which were , '.irousrht in days ago, and also on some bread days old. Many of the men were clad only in trousers, shirts and boots. Their faces were unwashed, gaunt and haggard. The men were determined, and could be heard muttering that the hall must not be taken untal all the ammunition had been exhausted, and not a bar of iron or t>. stick had been left to weild. NO QUARTER. Another message says that the occupants have offered to surrender, but the Government has replied that all must be arrested, by force if necessary. At the time of cabling hoarse words of command from officers in the streets, the clatter and clang of mounted men taking up their positions, and an occasional warning cry to .a fleeting pedestrian, who chanced to be in the danger zone, emphasfee the grim tragedy of the scene. A detective, named Mcßride, c/utght by the strike pickets approaching the entrance to the Trades Hall, was struck in the face and had to flee for his life.