ANARCHY RAMPANT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 5

ANARCHY RAMPANT

m THE RAH. NO-ORDINARY STRIKE.; SYNDICALIST CONSPIRACY. GRAPHIC PICTURE DRAWN BY: GENERAL SMUTS. t' B? T^le-sfi-ash—Press Association—Coisyrfsht Capo towti, February 5. Interne interest was oviuced in General Smuts's speech in the Union Parliament in detence- of the Government's actions under martial law and in support of tho Indemnity Bill. The Minister of Dei'enc© drew a graphic picture of the "reiga of terror" on tho Rand, whore "scabs" had befiti subjected to grossest brutality. The anarchy became so rampant that civilians did not daro to assist the authorities with information or evidence. It was with the- previous July's experience that, the Government acted in January. Ho ridiculed the Labour talk of constitutional methods after tho July events had eulminated in a. situation which since then had iieccs'sit-ated the mobilisation of 100,000 men. Tho Labour movement was no ordinary strike, but a Syndicalist conspiracy of an advtoiced typo that had been foiled in July. Poutsma, Bain, and others of the deported men had determined, after t-lio July failure, on a new effort; Bain's exhortation to the workers to come armed to tho Benoni meeting at the end of Jnne had revealed the true character of the Labour leaders' intentions. But for the Imperial troops in July last, continued General Smuts, tho country would. have been in a terrible position. The people could never bo sufficiently grateful for their help. Ho admitted tho mortifying features of the ettrapaot with tho Labour leaders in July, but said tho Josser ovil had been chosen. General. Smuts quoted speeches by Poutsma, Bain, and Waterston that they were revolutionaries of; tho' most dangerous type. Ho taunted Labour members of Parliament with being mere preachers, leading their followers to the brink and then deserting them. Bain, Poutsma, and ' their colleagues wero "doers." They ftovor intended that there should bo a settlement; it was their clear iutention to goad theGovernment to action tb?it would promote a general strike. Facts mado it clear that the Syndicalists nearly succeeded m their, 'settled intention to .paralyse _ trade and terrorise tho community into abject -surrender. No invader eouid inflict greater destruction <>r bring greater, disaster than Syfidieal" ists who .conspired to bring a country to its knees. General Smuts described Bain, whom he first fasew as a secret service agent of the Transvaal Republic,, as the most desperate character lie had ever met, Tho Minister finished his -speech amid general cheers, except from the Labourites. There were no . sensational disclosures. H© argued that the exceptional nature of the crisis and tho siiceess of martial law .had justified the procliimation, jvlirle the deportations had. been justified on the grounds of expediency and public policy. OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED .WITH THE STRIKE. , dape Town, February 5. Quo.hundred and fifty Rand miftera' sailed by the Bewinia fov Australin. ; Ferquena, one of tho men tried by court-martial at Johannesburg, has been , released.'.. , ■Cou.nerty, Neild, Buckley, and Car-son have been committed for trial on charges, of inciting a strike. Tho'.-Union A3seoibly has agreed to hoar the deported men's counsel to-morrow.