ON THE RAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 6

ON THE RAND

BOMB FACTORY FOUND BOERS’ PROMPT ANSWER TO GOVERNMENT CALL. STRIKE PRACTICALLY ENDED. JJv Telecraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association CAPETOWN, March li. Troops found hombs and detonators skillfully concealed «a traps on tho staircases in buildings eaptured m Fordsburg on Wednesday. A man captured yesterday is belioved to be responsible for the local manufacture of deadly bombs used against the beleaguered police. A factory was discovered at liis house at Now la nos. In a tribute to tho rapidity of the mobilisation of tho Boers, it is pointed out that within a few hours of tho Government’s call, ten thousand burghers from tho countryside arrived on uliti Rand. It transpires that the “Rede” placed seventy captured police in the top story of the Market Buildings at Fordsburg so that, if the buildings were bombed, the police would be exposed.. The nows leaked out in time to avoid bombing. The engine-driveiTS and mine-workers have called off tho strike, thus obviating the necessity for a ballot. This practically ends the strike, _ os the mine-workers’ was the principal union affected. The mines are rushed with applications for employment, and employers are getting more than they can employ. Among those charged with treason are Nicholas, a member of the town council, arid another member who is chairman of the Public Health Committee baa been arrested. Thompson, acting-president of the Industrial Federation, has also been arrested.

POISON SOWN BY FOREIGNERS . “NEVER AGAIN BE TOLERATED.” Tributes are paid to the splendid behaviour of the burgher forces in suppressing the revolution. In thanking the bnrgher forces on parade yesterday, Colonel Mentz, Minister for Defence, said the people had the right to stand up in defence of their rights, hut not to shoot policemen and walk about with clubs and kill everybody. He did not,agree with theim that they stood for a white South Africa. Their children were going to inherit a white South Africa, but not one composed of the class of. people responsible for the recent disturbances. General Brink said that persons from other countries had come, and had sown poison among the people of South Africa, but he trusted the lesson they hud now learnt would never be forgotten. Wlhat had been done would mow that such a state of affairs would never again be tolerated. STRIKE OVER AT MIDNIGHT SABOTAGE PREVENTS FULL OPERATIONS AT MINES. (Received March 20, 12.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 18. The latest’authoritative news from the Rand states that, the strike was definitely over at midnight. The mines are obtaining all the men they require. They will take on as many as possible, but. the native labour supply is short. At some mines the lower levels are under water. * Various acts of sabotage committeed during the strike tend to delay the full resumption of operations. Men are returning on the Chamber of Mines’ terms, but the promise of the Government to appoint an impartial board, presided over by a judge, to investigate the fituation still holds good.

HEAYY CASUALTY LIST NUMBER OF KILLED AND WOUNDED. (Received March 20, 12.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN, March 18. It is officially stated that the casualties of the Union Defence Force and South African police total 45 killed and died of wounds, 251 wounded, and 5 missing; civilians, died of wounds 6, wounded 93. This list does not include the whole of the casualties on the Government side. CLEANING JOHANNESBURG HOUSE-TO-HOUSE INSPECTION. MORE REBELS^CAPTURED. MINE-WORKERS MISLED. (Received Maroh 20, 1 a.m.) JOHANNESBURG, March 18. Military operations were continued in various Johannesburg suburbs yesterday, when soldiers searched each street, making a house-to-house inspection. It is stated that this* combing out process will be applied to the whole of Johannesburg and suburbs. After a short running fight, fifty rebels were captured by the Mounted Rifies in the northern area. There is now a general stampede back to work. Tho Mine Workers’ Union passed a resolution dissociating that organisation from the revolution, which was set up without their knowledge or consent under cover of tho real strike issue and repudiating and condemning such unwarranted action. Tho Mine Workers’ Union has a membership of over twenty-one thousand. The strike lasted seventy-six days on the coalfields and sixty-seven on the goldfields, and there were eleven days of the so-called general strike.