THE RAND CRISIS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 73, 31 July 1913, Page 5

THE RAND CRISIS.

WAITING FOR A STRIKE.

I.AIiOl! AM) THE BLACKS. [By Electric telegraph-—Copyright [United Press Association.] Johannesburg, July .'3O. The situation is outwardly unchanged. The Government has declined to reconsider the Labor demands. The Trades Federation has refused the Government’s suggestion for a g moral ballot on the question of a strike. Mr Connerty, president of the Railwaymen’s Society, has accepted the Government’s invitation to at-

tend a joint commission to investigate labor grievances. The acceptance indicates a split between the section of the railway men and the Trades Federation.

Thti Law Officers are considering the Federation’s manifestoes threatening to treat special constables as scabs, and calling, for Laborites to resign from the citizen forces.

The Government anticipates that <° large proportion of the railwaymen will join the strike, particularly from the workshops, hut that a number o' the running staff are believed to he loyal. It has boon arranged tiiat end train shall carry armed men and he preceded by a pilot engipe.for fear o’ dynamite. The vunerable points or the route are strongly guarded. Martial law will he proclaimed directly a strike is declared.

The Rand is divided into zones patrolled by commandoes of burghers who prevent large bodies of striker: from assembling simultaneously. The natives have been marched t< their territories under armed convoys The Government feel that this step if essential, otherwise the natives wiT bo a menace to women and children. The Government is considering a scheme whereby the railwaymen forthwith will he asked to sign on for two years’ service, accepting the Government’s recent offer as a basis of settlement of their grievances. These refusing to sign are to be asked to re sign. It is calculated that at least 75 per cent, will agree, THE OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. Lord Gladstone’s despatches declared that the. course a of'events after June 30 showed that the strike leaders’, counsels had been set aside. Tj. strike was rushed. There was no-order ly organisation after the cessation 01 work. Tire [native attitudes.was fuw of peril. ; ■ If Ahe .natives had been re duced to idlepiCsspin massed compound.: they would have been brought to star ration by rKilwh r y ! ' stoppage, and r was only too probable they would have broken loose. The horror of the situation could hardly he exaggerated. Every kraal in South Africa would hear of the white men’s impotence. The Strike Committee, Lord Gladstone added, had issued a circplar inviting the strikers to come armed tr Benoni to a greeting. Evidence .was accumulating ' that tire strikers intended to use explosives.... Very lit tie check had been used in regard tc the explosives in mines. Any miner was able to appropriate dynamitt with slight chance of detection.

The military had been separated into C2 detachments along the 50 mile; of reef. It was impossible for tin Union Government to have dealt wit. the situation with its own police am the military, the latter particularly; as they were mostly raw recruits owing to their transition from tin citizen force.

Lord Gladstone added that he intends to formally call Ministers’ attention to the lessons" ot the recent events, and he is sure they will re a lise that the Imperial troops have no boon retained in South Africa to dt work performed since June 30.

A UNITED FRONT

Johannesburg, July 30

The labor leaders emphasise that the railway men should join the- miners, presenting a united front to the Go v eminent.

It is expected that a number of the best men, who are non-unionists, xvill remain loyal and will bo afforded the fullest protection. Should a crisis come, the railway lines will be guarded by burghers and the trains patrolled by military police to prevent intimidation of the staff.

A HOPEFUL PROSPECT

(Received 10.10 a.m.) London, July 30

In the Rand the prospects are more hopeful, owing to the Government’s firmness. The Secretary of the Federation writes that the Government is not wholly rejected.