STERN MEASURES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 1 August 1913, Page 5

STERN MEASURES.

FOR RAND LAW-BREAKERS.

STATION FORTIFIED.

JOHANNESBURG AN ARMED CAMP.

RAILWAYMEN SECEDE.

By TelesruDli—Preßs Association—Copyright London, July 30. Tlia situation on the Rand is more hopeful owing to the Union Government's firmness. Tho federation's secretary writes that the Government's terras have not been wholly rejected. Johannesburg, July 30. It is unofficially stated that a ballot of railway drivers, fitters, and shunters at Johannesburg was largely against a strike. (Rec. July 31, 11.40 p.m.) Johannseburg, July 31. Tho Government's preparations to deal with the threatened strike continue. Twenty thousand burghers will bo mobilised if necessary.

Germiston, which is an important railway junction, has baen turned into an arsenal, tho armament including heavy ordnance, machine-guns, and much ammunition. Railwaymen Uneasy. Many of tho railwaymen are beginning to fear the results of extreme action. In an illegal strike on the Government railways, the strikers forfeit their pensions and seniority. Would-be' railway strikers are demanding that the Trades Federation shall guarantee that a fixed condition of any settlement shall bo the restoration of any of tho railwaymen's privileges which might be forfeited by their action in striking. The railwaymen at the Salt River and Touw River stations, in Cape Colony, liavo resolved against tho principle of a general strike without a ballot. Secret Committee Overthrown. Poutsman, secretary of tho Railwaymen's Society, states that tho railwaymen have totally dissociated themselves from the revolutionary propaganda, and have consequently secured tho overthrow of the Secret Strike Committee, which t was formed last Sunday, and invested with absolute revolutionary powers. The Trades Federation's executive and tho Railwaymen's executive would conduct future negotiations jointly. An important conference of all trades unions begins at Johannesburg to-day. Some of tho workers aro asking Mr. Askwith, the British Industrial Commissioner, to arbitrato. Socialist Firebrands. Tho evidence before the Judicial Commission, •which is inquiring into the recent riots, showed that 1000 revolvers, many rifles, and 18,000 rounds of ammunition had been Icoted from the gunsmiths' t shops on> the night of July 4, and the police and troops were subjected to a two houre' 'fusillade, chiefly from hooligans and also from snipers posted in buildings. Tho Socialist leaders earlier in tho evening incited the mob to shcot and burn.