WEST OF ENCLAND ISOLATED.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1211, 21 August 1911, Page 5

WEST OF ENCLAND ISOLATED.

SOLDIERS AS ENGINE-DRIVERS. CRUISER CARE IBS FOOD SUPPLIES. London, August 18. The West of England is isolated from tlio Midlands. Tlio railway services at Fishguard, Swansea, and many industrial centres in tho North of England, have been stopped. There is a partial suspension at Bristol, Cardiff, and the majority of tho Midland towns. A bonus has been accepted by the men at the potteries. Six hundred troops lmvo reached Leicester. N Traffic; at Abercarn has been ..suspended. It is expected that twenty thousand colliers will bo idle to-morrow. Tho Territorials at Salford havo. been ordered to return their rifles. A roll-call has been held of men of tho Royal Engineers capable of driving locomotives. A hundred and fifty vessels are held up at Cardiff, and forty at South Shields. The cruiser Warrior has carried foodstuffs to tho Isle of Man. Colliers at Nottingham held up many Mansfiold trains, and tlio service Has been adandoned. Goods traffic at Nottingham is at a standstill. ' London Stations Guarded. Troops are guarding most of the London stations and tho main lines' through tho suburbs. The railway strike is only partial in London.Thoso concerned ; n the provinces aio considering Mr. Asquith's proposal for a lioyal Commission. Tho men allege that two hundred thousand employees have struck through-, out the' country. . Sixteen thousand troops are now encamped in London. The fishing industry is paralysed, causing a daily loss of XIO.OOO sterling. Tho police in various centres are arranging for citizens to act as special constables. Sharp Fight With Police. Strikers attacked six wagon loads of meat while leaving tho Birmingham goods station. Alter a sharp fight with the police tho strikers were repulsed. Traffic in Lancashire is greatly disorganised. Eeywood is isolated. The cotton mills will bo unablo to open on Monday owing to latk of cotton. An express train was held up in South Wales for ten hours. Two signal-boxes in Monmouthshire havo been destroyed by fire, 37 Miles of Trains. Thirty-seven uiUls oi slumps at Powsiey, Derbyshire, aro filled with trains. 'Bluejackets at Portsmouth have been ordered to be in readiness for garrison duties in the event oi troops starting for tho strike areas. The publichouses at Birkenhead are closed at two o'clock in the afternoon, owing to strikers' riots. The railway men urge the London tramway men to strike. A battalion of Lancers at Chester has proceeded to Liverpool, where the Lord Mayor fears famine and looting in the poor districts. HOLIDAYMAKERS IN A PANIC. I TRAINS STONED. (Rec. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 20. Panic-stricken holidaymakers are rushing homewards, and havo increased the congestion on the restricted train services. The trains were stoned near Bradford, and tho points were tampered with at Riverbridge, York, but tho discovery was made in timo to prevent harm resulting. Birmingham Excited. There was great excitement at Birmingham last night. The conveyanco of meat from tho station led to- encounters botween the strikers and the police, tho constables making many baton charges. Many industries at Manchester are shutting down owing to the lack of coal transport. Only a few days' food supplios aro available. v Soldiers aro guarding all the electricpower stations in London. The Irish express at Fishguard was barred by tho strikers, but a party of iroops with fixed bayonets drovo tho strikers back, and released tho train. The railwaymen at Edinburgh havo decided to striko forthwith.