Stern Measures.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

Stern Measures.

SOUTH AFRICAN STRIKE.

THE GOVERNMENT STROKE ARREGT OF THE LEADERS. j ■ i AT THE CAMMON’S WOUTH. I . jfBY Electric Telegraph—Copyright] I United Press Association.! Johannesburg, January 15. j After the Government’s reply to j the Trades’ Hall message at midday, j the cordon round the Trades’ Hall | was greatly strengthened “with addi- | tional police, and a commando of burghers. A 12-pounder was pestled in Commissioner street, and train r led on the Trades Hall. General De la Roy, and the control officer (Colonel Truter) superintended the dispositions. ( When this work was completed, Bain appeared at a window of the 'Trades’ Hall and protested against | such a display of force, pointing out that the Strike Committee were unarmed, and that they were offering no resistance. If, lie added, _ bloodshed ensued after this notification, they would hold the Government responsible. Major Douglas, who is commanding the police, replied that if they did not surrender, the authorities must !use force.

Bain replied: “The force is on your side to-day.”

Then down came the police and entered the building. They arrested Watson (president of the Federation), Bain, Mason, Crawford, and Ware, together with the other leaders and ■their immediate followers, the total being 35, all of whom were preliminarily committed to prison for 21 days under the Peace Preservation Ordinance of 1902.

Subsequently the secretary and entire executive of the Amalgamated .Society of Engineers were arrested at their offices in the centre of the city.

A imraber of other Laborites were arrested in different parts of the country.

The tack of the strike is regarded as broken.

Renter’s correspondent states that throughout) the strike region in the Transvaal, Natal, and Free State reports indicate an abatement of the strike, and that the abatement has created enthusiasm.

The full railway services are expected to be resumed to-morrow. The position at the mines is practically unaltered since the morning. THE BEGINNING OF THE END. Captowri,, January 15. Renter’s Agency is informed that the Government’s letter to the men in the Trades’ Hall was sternly brief, and gave them five minutes to come out, failing which they, would be brought out.

After the expiry of 21 days’ incarceration, graver charges will be lodged against the chief leaders. The collapse of the strike seems imminent. The men are streaming back at Bloemfontein and other points on the railways, as they consider it useless to continuing striking now that the leaders have got everything in chaos.

An early collapse of the miners’ strike is confidently predicted. The general opinion at Johannesburg to-night is that unquestionably the, first prompt measures taken will quickly end fhe strike and restore normal conditions.

RESUMING WORK.

Capetown, January 16,

On the Strike Committee’s recommendation, the Salt , River strikers returned to.work tin’s morning. They were taken on unconditionally, with the exception of a few for whom there was no work, and the strike leaders, including the local secretary of railv.aymen. Despite the strike of . stevedores, work on the docks is proceeding at about half normal speed. The vessels are being worked by Kaffirs.

IN THE CAPE PROVINCE.

Capetown, January 16

A.number of mechanics at the Premier diamond mine, a vast property near Pretoria, have struck. The ringleaders were immediately arrested. The strikers, thereupon, asked to be allowed to resume, hut this was refused.

The Cape Trade Federation adjourned after a prolonged deliberation. They declined to make any announcement, hut it is believed the idea of a general strike in the Capo province lias been abandoned in view of to-day’s developments at Johannesburg. Pretoria, January 16. Mounted and foot police last night raided the strike headquarters, and arrested twenty leaders, including the entire committee.

QUIETNESS ON THE RAND. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Capetown, January 16. The Kaffirs on the Rand are quiet and are giving no cause for anxiety. Indians and Natives are efficiently conducting skilled clerical work on the railways. It is generally behaved in Caperowr that the resolute action of the

Government has broken the back of the strike.

“CALM PREVAILS.” MEN RETURNING TO WORK. (Received 8.0 a.m.) Capetown, January 16. Reuter’s correspondents in all parts of the Union show that calm prorails everywhere. Men in the various strike areas ire returning to work, and the day is otherwise passing uneventfully.

EFFECT OF MARTIAL LAW.

PRINTERS UNDER ARREST,

Johannesburg, January 16

The police raided the Labor Party’s headquarters where a meeting of delegates of the Typographical Union was being held. It is believed the meeting had decided to return to work. The meeting had just finished when the police appeared, and arrested all the delegates, numbering sixty-two, for contravention of martial law regulations in holding a meeting without the permission of the authorities.

PRETORIA’S MAYOR ARRESTED. DRASTIC POLICE ACTION. (Received 8.30 a.m.) Capetown, January 16. The Mayor of Pretoria was amongst the twenty arrested at the strike headquarters. He was released on his own recognisance. The authorities at Pretoria inform Reuter that in consequence of the events at Benoni some hundreds of strikers were arrested yesterday. This drastic action was necessitated by the extremes to which the strikers went in July and on the present occasion. They were the only bodies of miners to go on strike wholesale. Also, because of their interference. The police authorities hope similar drastic action wilt tie unnecessary in other parts of the reef, but in view of the strike being a breach of the law, and the firm tictermination of the authorities to restore law and order, they will not hesitate to act with equal severity whenever necessity arises.