AFRICAN STRIFE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2077, 18 March 1922, Page 5

AFRICAN STRIFE.

' DIVIDED LABOUR FACTIONS. J RUMOURS OF EXECUTIONS. DENIED BY THE AUTHORITIES. i i [By Electric Cable —Copyright] (.Aust. and N. Z. Cable Association.] (Received Friday, 10.15 p.m.) '■ CAPETOWN, March 10. ' The Johannesburg augmented '' Strike Executive declines to recognise. ■• tne calling oif of the strike by tiie Industrial Federation, and lias issued a notice to its trades unions, warning ! them not to pay attention to notices issued without their knowledge and consent, as they come from people who cannot be trusted. This notice illustrates the confusion caused by the existence of various • executives. Subsequently, the joint executives met, by perm.s.xion of the authorities, when it was decided to lake a ballot i on the question of ending the strike. I Johannesburg is full of rumours regarding the trial and execution of revolutionary leaders under tne Martial Law. it is olhcialiy stated that the rumours are untrue. No trials have yet taken p:ace. It is reported from Pretoria that i the head and fount of the revolutionary movement'tor a long time has I been centred in Johannesburg. TASK OF RECONSTRI CTION. Military operations on a. large scale are now probably over. What tne Government and the community now have to face is I iie work of reconstruction. The Premier is leading the way, and urges the whole population to make a d* (( i•mined effort to get the industrial machine into working order again. The goid miles are working partially throughout, and the railways will soon be normal, as there has been no railway strike, and such interruption as look piace was caused by i terrorism. Tin news of the. calling-off of the j strike in Johannesburg was received with general satisfaction. • I The Industrial Federation has issued a statement that the meeting at which ] the general strike was declared had no authority lo do so, and the decision was put into operation by unauthorised persons, without waiting for the decision of a separate meeting. The executives statement created a great impression, as showing that the general strike was not forced upon the workers by the Chamber of Mines and the Government, as has hitherto been maintained, but by intimidation, against the will of the federation. The federation also recommends that steps be taken to call off the mine strike. The. mines are receiving a rush of applicants to return to work. A number of farmers who appeared in the direction of Middleburg were dispersed or captured by the Government forces. Several who were taken . prisoner were subsequently released. GALLANT AND LOYAL FORCES. Some of the forces of burghers which assisted the Government have already been disbanded. A general ' tribute is paid to the police, who bore the Jirst brunt of the attack. They consist largely of Dutchmen, with a considerable percentage of Nationalists among them, but they all played a gallant and loyal part. Aeroplanes did excellent service in bombing thcßeds and assisting the land movements. Not one escaped being hit by ride tire. General Smuts, reviewing the Railway Regiment, said: "The crisis is over, thanks to the way the citizens did their duty." He paid a tribute to the. regiment's devotion. The Govern- | ment had again found that it could | rely on the complete loyalty of the railway service in times of stress. He j hoped organisation would be maintained, not for military purposes, but | for upholding' law and order. A GRAVE WARNING. The Nationalist newspaper "Do I Burger" utiles a grave warning ; against any movement pointing to unrest. It states that the Nationalist Parly will support the Government in the maintenance of law and order. When order is restored it will call on the Government to account for every deed in the late occurrences. The paper asks: "Has there not been enough bloodshed? The Government I holds the means of overcoming everyone. Let him protest against the Gov- ■ eminent; but not with army and force."

HORRIBLE CRIME. The "Johannesburg Star" has obtained from a wounded official of Brakpan mine a story of the murder of the other officials after the attack on the mini' on Friday. The details are reminiscent of the days of the savage Zulu chief, Dingaan. The official states that the garrison had already surrendered when a mob of Reds approached, and one rufiian fired at and killed a. man. Another man was also shot dead. The Beds then started bashing three other officials with their rides, and as they were lying on the ground unconscious owing to the battering they had received, voices cried "Let us shoot them." Several shots were fired at them as they lay, with fatal effect. RED LEADER'S *UK IDE. It is now ascertained that Fisher and Spendiff, the Bed leaders at Fordsburg, who were supposed to have been killed by shrapnel while making bombs, committed suicide. There is evidence that each died of a revolver shot in the temple. Fisher made a will on Friday, leaving his properly and £2oo>' sterling to his wife, and also niaknyr certain provisions for Mrs Spendiff. A SYDNEY RESOLUTION. SYDNEY, March 17. The Labour Council passed a resolution expressing whole-hearted sympathy with the trade unionists in South Africa in their tight against capitalism, and stating that the council will render any support possible.