A CITY OF SILENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 9

A CITY OF SILENCE.

CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD.

TRAFFIC RE-ORGANISATION. LONDON MEETS SITUATION Bjr Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright | Received May 5, 9 p.m. London, May 5. ' On Wednesday morning London was atjeep. There was no street traffic, no trains, no morning newspapers, no proofs, no cables, no messages from tape machines, but absolute silence. Britain* W’as completely cut off from the world. London yesterday presented the strangest sight known. Anything with wheels was pressed into service, parking regulations were suspended, and the whole city converted into a gigantic garage. Despite the attempt to bring people to the city, thousands were compelled to walk as far as ten miles. The whole length of the Thames Embankment and the bridge at Blackfriars was a dense mass of motors and pedestrians moving a yard at a time. It is similar elsewhere. The day’s experience prompted Scotland Yard to broadcast an appeal to business men to allow their employees away in relays. It also appealed for an early start in the morning, using the by-ways instead of the crowded main roads. London was extraordinarily quiet all day owing to the absence of the noise of ’buses. London was without trams, and virtually without trains and ffiuses, yet the streets were more congested than ever owing to the utilisation of everything motor-driven, however ancient. Every approach to the city was jammed by endless lines of cars and lorries, packed with business people. The Strand was at times a seemingly inextricable mass of traffic. News from the provinces shows that the strike is being observed in the industries embraced in the Trade Union Congress order, but work is proceeding in others, including the Clyde and Sunderland shipyards, Northampton boot factories, and Leicester hosiery factories. A number of potteries have stopped owing to lack of coal. In Belfast busi-, uess is proceeding as usual. Received May 6, 12.35 a.m. London, May s.*' . The Post Office has suspended the foreign and colonial mails. Received May 5, 11.15 p.m. London, May 5. Eight London theatres have been closed. AUSTRALIANS SURPRISED. The Australian cricketers, who returned to London in fast cars, were surprised to learn of the dramatie events that had taken place in the city The only news available in Leicester, was contained in a typed sheet stating that the Leicester trams had stopped and other local news. The other country districts were similarly ignorant of the happenings in London. In fact, the remotest parts of the world are better informed than the London suburbs. LONDON DOCKS GUARDED. Received May 5, 5.5 p.m. i London, May 4. Torpedo destroyers are stationed at all the principal docks in the Thames. It is understood that naval ratings will be available to discharge vessels if desired. All the produce trades are absolutely at a standstill owing to lack of transport. Eight apple steamers are arriving before May 8. The shipowners have arranged to keep the refrigerating machinery running. The strikers will permit sufficient firemen and greasers to remain at work for that purpose. The Mauretania, at Southampton, was unable to secure dockers, so the office men of the Cunard Line took off their coats, moored the ship, carried the baggage of 250 passengers ashore, and discharged 3500 bags of mails. The passengers left for London in motor coaches *nd private cars. RACING SUSPENDED. Received May 5, 8.25 p.m. London, May 4. A joint conference of the stewards of the Jockey Club and National Hunt Committee decided that owing to the difficulty of carrying out race meetings under existing conditions, all meetings would be abandoned until further notice. This does not apply to the Chester Sleeting now in .progress.