RAND CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 7

RAND CRISIS.

STILL SIMMERING. GOVERNMENT PLANS. MARTIAL LAW WILL FOLLOW STRIKE SIGNAL. LORD GLADSTONE'S DISPATCHES. By Tolenauli—Ptoss Association—Copyriehl London, July 29. Lord Gladstone's (Governor-General of South Africa) dispatches regarding tlio Johannesburg riot 9 have been published. They stato that tlio uso of troops was necessary for tho safety of the whole community. Lord Crladstono would not have consented to their uso in a trade dispute if the police had been adequate. He adds: "Allowanco must be made for tho miners, who have only recently realised tho awful sacrifices exacted by phthisis," which ho believes to be tho main root of tho troublo . The troops, he says, saved the situation and prevented wholesalo loss of life, which ■would havo followed in a pei-icd of anarchy and pillage, ill which tens of thousands of native!) would havo joined.

(Eec. July 30, 8.55 p.m.) Viscount Gladstone, in his dispatches, declared that tho cooirse of events after June 30 showed that tho striko leaders' counsels wero set aside, and the strike was rushed. There was no orderly organisation, and tho conation of work, added to the nativos' attitudo, creates a situation full of peril. If tho natives, reduced to idleness in the massed conpounds, had been brought to the point of starvation by a railway stoppage, it was only too probable that they would havo broken loose. "Tho horroT of the situation 1 can hardly be exaggerated," wroto tho Gov-ernor-General. Every kraal in South Africa would hear of tho white man's impotence. Tho Striko Committeo issued a circular inviting tho strikers to come armed to tlio Benoni mooting. Evidenco is accumulating that the strikers intended to use explosives in. tho mines, and any miner would be able to appropriate dynamite with but a slight chance of detection. The military forces separated, into G2 detachments stationed along fifty miles of the reef, but only six detachments fired. It is impossible for tlio Union Government to deal with tho situation with its own police and military forces, particularly as tlio latter are mostly raw recruits, owing to tho transition stage of the old military organisation to the new Citizen Forces. Viscount Gladstone added that ho intends formally to call his Ministers' attention to tho lessons of recent events, and feels 6ure that they will realise that the Imperial troops wcra not retained in Southi Africa to do tho work whiqh they have performed sinco June 30.

RAILWAYMEN APPEALED TO, NON-UNIONISTS EXPECTED TO BE LOYAL. (Sydney "Sun" Special—July 30, G. 20 p.m.) Johannesburg, July 30. Tho Labour leaders emphasise the importance of tho railwaymon joining the miners in tho coming struggle, and presenting a united front to the Government. It is expected that numbers of tho best men who are non-unionists will remain loyal to the Government, Tliey will bo afforded tho fullest protection, and should a orisis arise tho railway lines will bs guarded by burghers, and the trains patrolled by military police to prevent any unlawful intimidation of the staff.

. "SCAB" CONSTABLES. (Sydney "Sun" Special.) Johannesburg, July 29. Tho Labour Federation announces that men becoming special constables will bo posted as "scabs'" throughout Africa. It requests tho workers to abstain from giving evidence before tho Government's Commission of Inquiry. THE LATEST. SITUATION UNCHANGED. .(Rec. July 30, 10.-10 p.m.) Johannesburg, July 30. The situation, outwardly, remains uncliauged. Tho Government has declined to reconsider the Labour Federation's demands, and tho Federation has refused to listen to tho Government's suggestion that a general ballot should be held on tho question of, declaring a strike. Connerty, president of the Railwaymen's Socicly, las accepted tho Government's invitation to participate in a joint commission to investigate Labour grievances. This acccptanco indicates a split between a section of the railway men and tho Trades Federation. Tho law officers aro at present considering tho Federation's recent manifestos, threatening to treat the special constables as "scabs," and calling upon the 'labourites" to resign from the Citizens' Forces. The Government anticipates that a largo proportion, of tho railway men will join the strike, particularly those from tho workshops, but a number of those on the Tunning staff are believed to be loyal. It has been arranged that cach train will carry a party of armed men, and will be preceded by a pilot engine, as tho use of dynamite is apprehended. Vulnerable points along tho route are strongly guard, od. Martial law will bo proclaimed directly tho striko is declared, and tlio Rand will bo divided into zones, and patrolled by commandoes of burghers, who will prevent large bodies of strikers from assembling. Simultaneously, the natives will be marched to their territories, under armed convoys. The Government feels that this step is essential, otherwise tho natives will bo a menace to tho women and children. The Government is considering a scheme by which the railway men will forthwith bo asked to sign on for two years' service, accepting the Government's recent offer as a basis of settlement of their grievances, aud those who refuse to sign will be asked to resign. It is calculated that at least seventy per centum will agree.