A DISPLAY 'OF FORGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14, 17 January 1914, Page 5

A DISPLAY 'OF FORGE.

•COWED BY A TWELVE-POUN^ER-

WHOLESALE ARREST OF THE LEADERS.

[Pbebb Association.]

JOHANNESBURG, ian. 15. After the Government?* -reply to the Trades Hall message at mid-day, the cordon round the Trades Hall was .greatly strengthened by additionai police. A commando of burghers with a twelve-pounder was posted in Commissioner Street, and the- gun was trained on the Trades Hail. General JDe La Rey and the control officer, Colonel Trotter, superintended the dispositions. ■ ■ . When they were completed Mi;; Bain appeared -at a window of thegrades Hall and .protested against the display of tooe. The. Strike Committee was unarmed, and -they would offer no resistance. If bloodshed ensued .after this)notification they would hold the Government responsible. Major .Douglas, .commanding the police, replied that if they did not 'surrender he must-use .force. Mr Bain replied: ' 'The force is on ..your side to-day." H© then came ■down and .the police entered the buildr ing and .arrested -Mr Watson, presi- . dent of the Federation, Messrs Bain; Mason, -Crawford, Ware, and the other leaders, nnd their immediate .followers, totalling 35. They were preliminarily committed to ;prison dor 'Si days under the Peace Preservation Ordinance of 18G2- , Subsefliiently the secretary and the entire executive of the Amalgamated Society of were arrested at their offices in the centre.of the city. A number of other Laborite arrests ■were made .in different parts of the country. ' . '" ■. _v The back of the strike is regarded to have been broken. Reuters correspondents through.out the strike .regions of the Tran&r vaal, Natal,-and the free State report an/abatement of the strike and an abatementsdf'enthusiasm. The full .railway services are expected to •be resumed tomorrow.