RAND MINES

Evening Star, Issue 16777, 4 July 1918, Page 6

RAND MINES

KAJTIR MAKES TROUBLE. I.W.W. PROPAGANDA. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association. . PRETORIA, July 1. There are rumors of unrest among tlie whites in the Eastern Transvaal mines. Men are even mentioned who are willing to load commandoes on to Pretoria. The unrest among tho Rand natives is believed to have bean fomented by I.W.W. agencies. Prior to the strike General Botha made a strong appeal to the men to remain quiet, promising immediate consideration of their grievances, and also to meet their leaders, who urged them not to strike. There are 50,000 to 60,000 .natives on the Rand whom tho trouble may affect. A ballot of the Rand engineers, by an overwhelming majority, favored affiliation with the federated trader. CAPE TOWN, July 1. The natives employed at tho Eerreira and Ferreira Deep Mints at Johannesburg, numbering 3,500, shuck work, demanding Is per day extra. Two thousand of them, marching towards the Crown Mines, were .'topped by the police. The situation is now quiet, and the natives are confined to their compounds under a guard.« The position elsewhere is normal. Measures have been taken to guard the public buildings. FIRM MEASURES SUCCEED. JOHANNESBURG, July 1. Tho police and troops, with fixed bayonets, entered the native compounds and secured possession of large numbers of sticks and other weapons usually kept handy in the event of tribal affrays. They arrested 71 ringleaders. Tho natives submitted quietly, and it is expected that the majority of them will abandon their attitude of passive resistance, and resume work.

It is apparent that the movement for a general strike of the natives has failed.