UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1959, 16 January 1914, Page 7

UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

SOUTH AFRICA IN

arms:

WAR AGAINST SYNDICALISM.

STRIKERS BESEIGED.

GAOLED IN IHBIRxOWNI CITADEL. (flllS the white; fiMWi By Telegraph—Press Aesociaiion-»OoDiiTiiM-Capo Town, January 14. 't The martial law region promulgated for tho purpose of maintaining order and protecting lifo and property during tho strike is divided into nino control areas, each under a- Control officer, who has absolute power. \ : The ordinary law remains in force, and tho civil Courts continue, but cannot override the orders or actions of the control officer or any officer administering martial law-. Arrests- may bo made without- warrant. All commissioned officers have full power to .commandeer and requisition as in war time. ■■ Tho control officer may restrict the movements of any person within his area, also regulate and restrict movements of natives, notwithstanding anything in any statute. The publication in newspapers or otherwise of false or alarming reports or information calculated to promote tilfeeling is prohibited; also, intimidation by strikers or tho use of opprobrious epithets, including tho words "scab", nnd "blackleg." Dynamitarus, or even suspected dynamitards, may be shot on sight; also persons , with explosives in their possession, which cannot be explaim-'d, may bo sentenced to death by a military tribunal. ■ ITnauthorised persons found in tho neighbourhood or the railways, telegraphs, telephones, power stations, and waterworks arc also liable to be shot on sijiht. ■ .-.'■'

SITUATION EASIER. '; STRIKERS LOSING CROUND. ' ' DRASTIC REGULATIONS HAVE A SOBERING EFFECT. V Cape Town, Jamtary ]4. ..'; The situation is easier. The strikers lost ground to-day. The country population, English and Dutch alike, arc rallying to the support of the Government with marked unanimity. The special constables, who are principally responsible for patrolling the railways ami main lino services throughout the Union, have maintained frondorful regularity. The proclamation of. martial law in the northern provinces and the exceptionally drastie regulations are supposed •to, bo having a steadying effect on tho waverers. Various trades at Cape Town, nevertheless, are discussing tho advisability or , striking. Many a'ro strongly disposed to that course. The Governor-General's . proclamation has been placarded in tho streets of tho city, as in other centres of the Unions anil applies equally to the Cape province except so far as martial law is concerned. Tho general strike, orckr applies for the present tnly to the Transvaal and Free State. It k understood at tin? Cape that the Federation will call a general strike in tho Cape province, or not. according io circumstances. ■

"DECKS CLEARED FOR ACTION." STATE V. SYNDICALISM. NEWSPAPERS CLOSING DOWN. Johannasnurg, January 14. There is a contrast- to yesterday. Polico are swarming everywhere to-day, and armed mounted men are patrolling tho thoroughfares. No one is' allowed to enter or leave, the city without a permit. Additional regulations require a. special permit for citizens to be outdoors between 8 o'clock at night and 5 o'clock in the morning. . ' Cron-ds of applicants for permits have assembled. Two men arrested at Bcn-oni were reffcued by a mob of strikers, who also thwarted an attempt by the police and detectivea to raid the Trades Hall to arrest Mr. Bain, the secretary of-tno Trades Federation. The Transvaal "Leader" says:—"The docks are cleared for action, and the struggle between the Stato and Syndicalism has begun. The only liope remaining' is that it will bft fought to a final and'conclusive issue." _

The Johannesburg "Mail," anticipating that its publication would be su<r : pended for a time in consequence of its being a trade union office, while one of its competitors, being a non-union office, continues uninterrupted, considers' that the position is scarcely likely to furnish a very strong incentive to other employers to follow the "Mail's" example, and proceeds :—"Use fault is not that of tho system, in- which we still believe, but of the madmen who rule tho Federation to-day, and seein determined to lead all who will follow them to ruin."

The "Mail" tenders its sympathies to thoso who have-been, forced into ep» operation in achieving their own ruin and shattering their ideals. A copy of the following cable message from Mr. Hunt, secretary of the Federation at Perth, Western Australia, has been posted outside the Trades Hall: —"To the Secretary Federation, Johannesburg,—Sympathy in your strugglo for freedom. Financial assistance if wanted. Hold out. AVholo of Anstra- 1 lia with you in your fight against BoUia Government." Tho Trades Halt is now barricaded with boxes, liquor.cases, and furniture, mainly at the back of the hall, but tho main'door is also barricaded. - ■■■-;.■■ j The newspapers are closing downoo r : in<j to the compositors going on strike.: Telegraphing is difficult. ■ " ' .'■>:■»■'■■■. Several dynamite outrage* , are re-; ported; Dynamite continues to be found on the railway. ■ ',■■■■. ' V, A quantity was discovered tlufl teorning at Booyseiis, on the Reef Sine, by a patrol of Imperial Light Horse.^y*

WITHIN THE CSTADEUf" BELEACUERED STRIKERS IN CAPE TOV/N TRADES HALL.;g^|g A GRIM SCBNEoif?^^ (Rec. January-10,-. 5.40. p.in;\o^ There are from, two-to three hundred , men, fully armed , , at present.iiisWe tho Trades Hall. They are determined-to' resist all attempts, to storm the place: Tho police do not. yet intend to raid the lialli m tlioM> ineidie we M g&od «» in gwl. Tho hxii k completely.assisted

'■■VviV.ci: l tcioplimipi; iliaVp--fiii'f'ft^iit'ioff; '''mi?-.' \ ;^ji , s? ;, ;;^y>j: ■■. >'■;■■ ■,' ;■',: *! : ?J!-'?&M"jfj.ifl;: .^liac'lf./nfij-tiw^lialJ'i^uypr- , "-tlilVi-ranfsiX'innjlt ■ i urns !!E° a .™!\ t .' * |'t o*iysist|a j1; attornp ; i*■-f{i iff) riiV 1 tieSh'nll g :il)an;ic!ul^OJ')yi{li-i|J)Xosfjill^!l|H : it]i;;iii ; )ilwcMfl)<'ii)gypi;t,f|'fla|jWne-!iriiigSf!riiy;i:oJ w ;:iminitioift^;v^ / '.->'5 v ! ; :W;'''' , '' ,: '/ }.£■:;,'■■';'f?P 'ft;:;Tlifti;(lofpii!)oH' ;anV; linng^'iiieflyjftJiiH: !ir¥ so iiip; .il ay s; ; a goy;'. iTh eyi!?rty.cjjii 1 sm: somo J i a.iKl»a're, > imwashoil; '•withrjjauiitjiliaggard.. .ka tu res :Ji'.'Th<vha 11 ) will in o'£ Jic ita It en', ■muttered ? them';' ■ami) ninitioa \m; exhausted J^a". , !^ "bar.of iron'oivstick;i3jleit;tq : iwicl(K",;i'|/ ;of ,'jcomnia S tliel; oftlc? rs JMiV £.t lie:' streets,?: of ft lie ;raoiinted.meiv i posi-.' ~' 'cry'to a fleeting'pedqstriali-tyiioX.wati-derod into■ the danger'stone', 1 - all : empha-. sised the grim .tragedy of .the sceneiC j-..; : ■'."'A dotoctivp^yiiamed.""M'-Bridc X'was. 'caughtiby; tlioj strike" pickets! in; the act' 'of; approaching Sitho. vthe, •j ace j'and-had' to" flee* fo'ri'h iiSlifopSSs?. v fe|;.M ID NIC HTs DE MO NSTR ATI ON .*K ¥ CROWD-FOnCRD UACEBY-THEsf ~,■:;,-■■ ;■-■ ;■■ ;' :-At midnight a largo 'and- menacing crowd mado a demonstration ' in ■ tho street near tho Trades Hall. After somo stonc-thrqvving tho crowd was forced back by th« polico bayonets, two of them being bayoneted. None.? of,tho polico were injured. /There,'yrero a.';number of arrosts. ' ■/;■:: "■■". ■ $ : f>*■'ss??*";■■ ■■■■ ~.: ■■;■ . ■ The police'have been'reinforced up to the number of : tjvo hundred, and are stationed all round tho Trades Hali,from which the Red , flag waves. ■ I;■*:.'•; ■,k' & ::f'r4:.\: ::!: ''-' ■ AVhon Mr. ■Bain ■ of: ; tho Trades Federation) .re-entered-'tho hall. he described the condition of himself and his bodrguard as ''All well." The neighbourhood of the.,; hall has been cleared, and a close *cordon of police with fixed-bayonets"'posted to prevent any access. Mason and other strike lenders are inside. The apparent intention of the police is to quietly kfcp th™. there at their ■ leisure. ■■■' ■ ■'■ '• ■ > All : .thc mines. in^thcsAyest'-'-Rand are. working. ■;-. : " ' '"■' '■, >■;/ ■■~ . flag for.the red. , ; .' trades halt, offers to sl'r- . :'-^ : ;.: ■■ '■;.": render, ■;:;.■■, ;/■..'.,. I ■■■ :'■■:■ (Rcc ; . .Tannary 16,' 0.25 : a.m.)'-' ■ .'.■

:;• ■'■'■ ■■■■'■';■ Johannesburg,' January 16. ■ The Trades Hall has offered to surrender, but tho Government has replied that all the occupants must he arrested, forcibly if necessary. :; .— v .. '~. > fireman maltreated and ■*,;;/:. . carried off.- , ..;-. .- .;: .- officer's prompt. '■. v; ~■:,.' ;>■ ACTION.;,'; "... ■ -, .. Durban,- -January 14. '■■: iSoroe strikers stopped a light engine nfc Greyville, near Durban, yosterriay, and maltreated anil carried off the fireman. The control., officer ordered tho strikers to release tho fireman to-day, otherwise stern measures . would ■he taken. The strikers complied; ■..' ■ , : . . ■ -■■ 1 Tho control oflicei - sentenced tho : sig--iiiilmnu whoso signals first.,held.i.ip-the ■eiiginh to twelve, months', hard laboiir. This is the first railwayman ...to. bo eonvicted .under martini law.,'--,i''>- '.

' RIGOROUS PROHIBITIONS. ''-0 ' Biocmfontoln, January id. , '• The operations of martial law" in the Free State (Orangia) are' • especially severe. ■ A strict press censorship has been established, ■in addition' to other regulations. ' ... .-'..: ■. . ■.■ ■ Colonel Dutpit; tiie control officer, has prohibited strikers leaving their homes, forbids the display of tho Red flag, and has also prohibited the rendering of any assistance to the strikers, direct or indirect, .whether in fuiuLs or in goods. . ' "STAND FIRM!" •:.,... APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT,. : ;.; (Uec. January 15, 0.25 p.m.) Cape Town, .January 15.! Speaking at a mass meeting of fanners at Stellenbosch, -Mr. J. X. Jlorriinan (6x»Premier of Cape Colony) urged the Government to stand firm! There must be ho more treaties ■ with .the Trades Federation, ho declared; no more interviews with men with revolvers in., their pockets to . enforce ' their do-, mands. (This latter statement relate:) to tho Carlton Hotel compact at Jbhan-licsbui-R in July last, after' ; the -ints, when Mr, Bain and other Labour leaders met General Botha and General Smuts on the balcony of the hotel-after the rioting.) . .' ; " Sir Thomas Sninrit, Leader (rf the Opposition, said to-day that it was 'the duty of the Opposition to' stand 1 y the Government. The country, be paid", was not prepared to hand over the ri.ius to a self-appointed Junta .. like the Trades Federation. Tim enthusiasm of the audience 'at the .meeting is characteristic of similar . meetings, vliich have been held throughout,the. Union...

DIFFIDENT MAYOR*7 : S;: ..*:"■ Maritzburg, January"lSY''' , ' .■ At a meeting which was hold for .tho purpose of .forming: a' Committee- <si' Public Safety, the Mayor, adhering to the attitude adopted by- him yesterday, considered \that:.a : ;'c<>nimittoeVwas 'unnecessary, 'l- ,, ■-•.?■'.? iW'?. , . .!■"•:'-.".!'■"...,'.:.■ Colonel Clarke, "tho 'control >' officer, raid that he had had.'a wire from (lie Minister of Defence,to':the effect that, Maritzbarg was tho only town in'-tiip f'nion where the/, local authorities l-.-td declined , to help the Government.: As ho was empowered uncleti ho i,reclamation of martial law, ho would have to nominate the.committee : himself. , cordingly he.nominated the Mayor as a moinbfir.■ .-.After .'some discussion the committee was formed, and the Mayor agreed to served- ■ ■■:. ■ -.-■-:;•- : J .. Numbers of special constables are,,being .enrolled. ■' -■' 's-,.:-:^,---- , - , .;