England’s Strike War

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 3, 19 August 1911, Page 5

England’s Strike War

RAILWAY MEN GO OUT. SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE. . STIRRING SCENES. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. United Prtss Association. London, August 18. The,railway strike lias officially begun on a considerable scale. How far it will become general remains to bo soon. Thousands have already joined those on strike. i

After tho abortive Board of Trade Conference tho railway men’s executives mot toe Parliamentary Committee, tho Trade Union Congress and the Labour Party of the House of Commons. Afterwards the secretary of tiio Amalgamated Railwayman announced that war had been declared on the railways for their refusal of a Roval Commission.

Mr, Asquith, tho Premier, addressed thorn, and said the Government would not allow a paralysis of the railway traffic. Railwayman would incur a heavy responsibility if they would not weigh his words carefully. The joint executives subsequently issued a manifesto, in reply to Mr. Asquith,, declaring that his statement was.an unwarrantable threat against the railway workers, who for years had repeatedly asked the Board of Trade and also Parliament to mend tho conciliation scheme.

Fifteen hundred telegrams, giving tho signal to strike, wore despatched. The Labour Party and Parliamentary Committee of " the Trade Union Congress have not resolved to help tiro railwayman.

Afterwards tho position was discussed by the Labour Party’s executive. Dissatisfaction was expressed with the unsympathetic attitude of the Government, and it was decided to give notice of motion of censure on tho Government. The scene of action was transferred to tho House of Commons. Mr, Lloyd-Georgo thought the men did not fully appreciate the character of Mr. Asquith's proposal, but had proceeded to recommend a groat strike. He felt that if the contlice must come it should come only after a full understanding of tho character of tho proposals. He was glad to announce that negotiations were reopened. Tho parties were considering this interpretation that tho Government did not intend a roving commission far tho purpose of staving off the evil hour. The Commission would consist of three representing the companies and three representing the men, with an independent chairman, and would meet forthwith and arrive at a prompt decision. j Mr. Ramsay MacDonald said that apparently there had been a misunderstanding, but so grave was the position, and so keenly did they feel tho position,' that lie had intended to move a vote of censure on the Government for the way in which it had conducted negotiations. _ The Labourites would now do their utmost to bring about peace. j Mr. Lloyd-Georgo said if the Commission wore accepted the members would be appointed on Saturday, and moot on Monday. The Government would take immediate administrative action on tho Commission’s decision, and, if necessary, summon Parliament.

The railway executive sat late, considering Mr. Asquith’s proposal, and. adjourned till the morning without decision.

Stirring scones were witnessed at Aldershot and Waterloo over the departure and arrival of troops. Two hundred cavalry and 11,000 infantry were transported to London during tire night, and bivouacked in London parks. Three thousand Guards arrived from Perbright. The Aldershot command is being utilised in London, while tho southern command is being concentrated on Salisbury Plain in readiness to proceed to the strike areas. Six hundred West Yorkshires wore despatched to Leeds, six hundred Durhams to Bradford, and two hundred Royal Engineers have left Chatham for Liverpool; Liverpool is going from bad worse. A'famine is threatened. The spectre of pestilence hovers over the city, which *is presenting a most dirty appearance. The scavengers _ have struck, and the daily cleaning is unperformed. This is a menace to health. . ;

v An effort to plunge the city into darkness was partially successful. The authorities, however, secured_ assistance, and maintained street lighting. The theatres are closed. The railway services are fairly maintained, except to Manchester. The hotels close at two in the afternoon. The sale of bottled liquids has been interdicted, in order to prevent using tho bottles as missiles. _ Late last night traffic was proceeding normally in London termini. 1* ow men ceased, except at St. Pancras, where 500 good strikers endeavoured to induce tho passengermen to strike. The Thames lightermen will strike to-night. It is ' expected that the whole transporters of the United Kingdom will bo called out by iuosRioting has begun in "the Scotland Road area of Liverpool, many bakers’ shops being looted in the lower parts of the city, where tho pincli of hunger is keenly felt. Two thousand special constables have been enrolled, and the tramways are suspended in order to conserve the lighting current at nightfall.

TO DAY’S MESSAGES. POLICE AND STRIKERS. (Received 19, 8.5 a.m.) London, August 18. The conditions are turbulent at Sheffield. A mob attempted to tear np the line on which an engine was conveying police, but the plot uas Irustrated. , . . A crowd lassoed the cirivcr or a beer lorry, brutally assaulted him, burst the barrels, and indulged in an orgy. The police cleared the street with baton charges. The mob succeeded in blockading the coal depots, causing the stoppage of several works, idling thousJ iie local Territorials at Newcastle have been ordered to return then 11fles to the armoury. A meeting of railwavmcn on the principal lines in Dublin decided to strike*' to-day. . . ~ Several collieries in the vicinity ol Manchester, employing 30,000 hands, have boon closed. Pickets at the suburban stations, failing to induce the signalmen to leave their posts, cut the signal telegraph wires. , . Colonel Seelv, in the House of commons, said that where possible the reading ol tho Itiot Act would be p l . ccoded by a bugle call. In reply to a query, he said it was undo°.iiable that/ the first volley should be biank eat tridge. Sixteen thousand troops are now encamped in London. The fishing industry is paralysed, causing a daily less of £IO,OOO.

The police in various centres arc

arranging for citizens to act as special constables. 'Torn Mann, replying to the shipowners, said he hoped final negotiations would lie resumed in a few days. , , . .... Ironworkers have struck, idling several thousand. Cambrian and Tory-Pandry minors resume on a basis of the London juTcemont, drafted in May. (Received 19, 3.25 a.m.) London, August 18. Parliament remains sitting during tiie crisis. , , , Mr. Churchill foresnadowed larger measures if they should be necessary. Troons are guarding most of the London stations and die main lines through the suburbs. The railway strike is only partial in London. Those concerned in the provinces are considering Mr. Aset aith’s pronosal. ‘ Tho men allege that 200,000 employees have struck throughout tho country.

(Received 19. 9.25 a.m.) London, August 18. Tho West of England is isolated from the Midlands. The services from Fishguard. Swansoa, and many industrial centres in the North of" England, have been stopped, and there is a partial suspension at Bristol and Cardiff. Tne majority of tho Midland men in the potteries district have accepted the bonus offered by the company to the men who remain loyal. Six hundred troops have reached Leicester. Traffic at Abercairn is suspended, and it is expected that 20,(f00 colliers will be idle to-morrow. The Territorials at Salford were ordered to return their rifles. A roll-call has been held of the Royal Engineers to ascertain if the mon are capable of driving locomotives.

One hundred and fifty vessels are held no at Cardiff, and forty at South Shields. • ■'

The cruiser Warrior carried foodstuffs to tho Isle of Man. Tne colliers at Nottingham held up many Mansfield trains, and the service has been abandoned.

The goods traffic at Nottingham is at a standstill. Strikers attacked six waggon loads of moat leaving Birmingham goods station; After a sharp fight with the police the strikers were repulsed. Traffic in Lancashire is greatly disorganised. Hcywood is isolated. The cotton mills will ho unable to open on Monday owing to the lack of cotton. Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, said' the Government was taking stems to ensure uninterrupted supplies of food, fuel, and other essentials. It must be clearly, understood, he added, tiiat the people’s food supply and the country’s safety were more important than anything else. ; t The House adjourned till Tuesday. The express was hold up in South Wales for ten hours, Two signal-boxes in Monmouthshiro were set on lire. Thirty-seven miles ol sidings .at Rowsley are filled with trains. Bluejackets at Portsmouth have been ordered to be in readiness for garrison, duties in the event of the troops starting for the strike areas. The publichousos at Birkenhead have been orderd to be closed at two in the afternoon owing to strike riots. • d' London, Aligust 18. The railway managers, After interviewing Mr. 'Buxton, decided not to moot the Board of Trade officials again until there was some change in the men’s attitude.' Viscount Elibauk has issued a whip, stating-that ,-Mri . Asquith, in view of the grave situation in the country, asked the House to reassemble on Tuesday. The railway men are urging the London tramway men to strike. A battalion of Lancers from Chester has proceeded to Liverpool, where the Lord Mayor fears the famine will cause looting in the poor districts.

AUSTRALIAN STRIKES. (Received 19, 9.15 a.m.) Brisbane, August 1.9. The waterside workers at Mackay have refused to budge in their attitude regarding non-unionists. The crew of a lighter . struck in sympathy. Adelaide, August 19. The prospectus of an Employers’ Mutual Assurance Co. has been issued, with the object of making a definite stand against the demands of organised labour. The capital is £IOO,OOO.