STRIKE HANGS FIRE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1954, 10 January 1914, Page 5

STRIKE HANGS FIRE

SOUTH AFRICA'S TRIALS.

GOVERNMENT READY FOR A FIGHT. MINISTER SPEAKS PLAINLY. By Teleffrc-ph—Press Association-Copyrichl Pretoria, Tho general railway strike called for to-day has not taken placo so far. Tho only railway workers who have stopped work aro those in tho railway workshops at Pretoria and Johannesburg. A special staff runs the trains as usual.

Of '100 strikers at Braamfontcin workshops, 16S fitters have resumed. Tho Labour leaders admit that the strike is a fiasco.

Railway men in every part of tho Cape have sent tho managers an assurance that they aro not striking. It is stated that the Government has arranged to call out burghers to guard the mines and protect property. At Johannesburg gunsmiths' stocks of revolvers aro sold out. During the last few week residents havo been laying in food supplies. 'JTio troops at Potehefstrom and Pretoria are being held in readiness. It is reported that half a million rounds of ammunition, has arrived at Johannesburg.

LEADERS' LATEST PREDICTIONS. (Ree. January 9,-11.5 p.m.) Johannesburg, January 9. Several sections of tho workers on tho railways are balloting whether to strike. The sparsity of funds is acting ns a deterrent, but tho leaders predict that tho strike will he in full swing in four (lays.

General Smuts, Minister of Defence,, in addressing tho spccial constable corps, said the Government hoped to prevent' bloodshed, but if the strikers had to be fought there would be greater calamities than in tho Johannesburg riots of July. The Government was determined to fight the agitators to p finish. ' RIOT INSURANCE SOUGHT. "Times" —Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. (Rcc. January 9, 6.20 p.m.) London, January 9. There is a heavy demand for insurance against riot risks in Johannesburg.