DRAMATIC INCIDENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10888, 28 February 1914, Page 6

DRAMATIC INCIDENT.

SURRENDER OF LABOUR LEADERS.

The Trades Hall surrender at Johannesburg, and the arrest of the

leaders of the strikers, formed the

chief topic in the Oape newspapers which reached Australia pa February 6 th. Two attempts were made by detectives to rush the building. “The strength of the defence” writes the Johannesburg correspondent of the Oape Times on January loth, “wasfeit by the reconnaissance of yesterday, and it was realised that any determined attempt to force an entry might possibly lead to bloodshed. The yard of the hall was strewn with broken bottles, and it was surmised that they were ready as a sort of improvised ammunition.' All the doors were strongly barricaded, and it was known that huge packing cases, filled with bottles and all sorts of heavy material, were against some of the doors of the rooms. ” “The time for the final preparations for an assault on the Trades Hail was well chosen. Just after 1 o’clock people in the business buildings in the vicinity had left for lunch, and when the streets were more clear than usual, light barricades similar to those which usually carry a ‘street closed’ repairing nob on hand were erected across all the streets, two and sometimes three blocks from the Trades Hall. ”

“The police force, which had been centrolling the enclosed area since the -previous morning, was quickly increased to apparently double strength, and the area cleared of people in the elraefis without any unnecessary fuss. People leaving premises in the area were stepped by the police, and quio-ly informed that they would not again he allowed to enter the area untsl the barricades had been removed. A few small groups gathered outside the barricades, notably at the Oarlton hotel corner, hut few appeared to appreciate that any unusual move was on baud. ”

“Then the ‘general advance’ commenced. Large squads of police, mounted and foot, appeared round corners many blocks away almost simultaneously, and, coming from all sides, marched up briskly to occapv the area that had just been ring fenced. The largest body came up Commissioner street. They were proceeded by a small squad, who trotted up briskly to a 16 pounder field piece and limber. The limbering of the gun brought shopkeepers and others to the doors, and the crowd in Bloif street increased. It was only then that the public appreciated the full significance of the police move. ’’ “As the gun was wheeled round and unlimbered outside Mr Harris’s tobacco shop, the occupants of the Trades Hall gathered at the first floor windows. The muzzle of the gun was trained on the windows, and those within the hall were seen to draw back from the windows, pale and agitated, and gather together in animated conversation.

The police hastened to take up points of vantage, evidently acting on a carefully concerted plan. A squad of detectives and other plain clothes men took up positions closest to the hall. Behind them pla. r ed at points giving a clear view of the various entrances and windows of the ball, were bodies of poilce with fixed bayonets. They were supported by mounted police, most of whom were potted within the barricades, A strong burgher commando was at the hack of all, apparently intended to keep the streets clear and repel any attempt outside the cordon to come to the assistance of the besieged men. ’’ “Major Douglas, who was in ocmmsud of operations, stood with a few other officers beside the gun. Half a dozen rounds of It 3 ammunition, which had been laid in a row on the road, were ominous of possi Dili ties. Major Douglas then ad vanceci, and took up a position on the roadway, immediately facing the large window. JBain, who could be seen with others in the room, came to the window and raised it. He carried a piece of paper in Ids hand. Addressing Major Douglas, he said: ‘You have come here in oroe against unarmed men ; the responsibility of any bloodshed will be with you.’’ Major Douglas replied that he had come to present a letter from Colonel Truter, the officer of control. He

appealed to Bain and those with him to surrender; otherwise the police would be compelled to use force. “Bsin said that he would receive the letter at the main entrance. Major Douglas then went to the door and handed the letter to Bain, who asked to be allowed to consult with the others within the building on its contents. Major Douglas replied that they must surrender by 2 o’clock. This was at atout 1.45.” “During the wait it was seen by the anxious watchers that tne police preparations for an assault on the building were even more complete than they at- first appeared. Heads and rifle muzzles appeared over root ridges on almost every available point commanding "the hall. A couple of squads of police had previously made a rush to the Florence hotel, where they commanded the southern face of the hail Other bodies covered various narrow ways, through which a sortie might have been made from the back of the building. A body of police lined up directly in front of the building, and rifle bolts were tried and bandolier flaps unbuttoned. The 13 pounder was trained to place a shell into the main windows of the first floor ” “The wait was an anxious one, arc! there were grave apprehensions, as it was seen that the men within the building were running time perilously close. At precisely two minutes to two Major Douglas looked at his watch, and again advanced to the main entrance. He knocked at the door, and called upon all within to surrender immediately. Then the door opened, and the defenders of the Trades Hall, 37 of them, rumours made them many mere, filed slowly out. A body of police hastened up and formed a square, into the centre of which the Federation leaders and their picket filed at once. The signal was given to the rapidly gathering crowd out' side the cordon. There were feeble cheers, a few halfhearted attempts at singing ‘The Red Flag,’ and a genera! heart-felt feeling of relief that bloodshed had been avoided. Tise Federation men stood quietly and stolidly within the armed square in the street, whilst bodies of police, 25 men each, charged into the building and ranged over it. returning shortly with bundles of papers and miscellaneous articles. Sub-Inspector Miller, with the first force, made his way to the reading room window from which most of the speeches of the jast few days had been delivered, above the feebly flattering red flag that had flown since the strike commenced. As Mr Miller reschad to haul it down, the disconsolate little group in the road below looked up, and struck up ‘‘The Red Flag.’ A number of ether polSce were called up, and the prisoners were marched off towards Marshall Square. ’ ’