CLYDE ENGINEERING STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2398, 2 March 1915, Page 5

CLYDE ENGINEERING STRIKE

LABOUR TROUBLE CREATES UNEASINESS ADMIRALTY ORDERS HAMPERED BRITISH CHANCELLOR'S WARNING London; February 28. The labour situation creates uneasi uess, though, the only open rupture ii at the Clyde, where • 11,500 engineer, havo struck, hampering the Admiralty Some of the workers regard Sir Georgi Askwith's letter as an ultimatum. Th< employers declare that it is impossiblo t< concede 63. a week. A mass meeting is being held to oonsider the resumption of work. The Humber engineers have aoceptec 3s. weekly and war bonus advances. [Sir George Askwith, Chief Industrial Commissioner, and chairman of the Wai Strike Committee, wrote to the unioni concerned in the Clyde engineering strike, stating that he is instructed b; the ■ Government that it is importan' that munitions urgently required* Army and Nary should be supplied, anc he must call for the resumption of worl on Monday morning.]MASS MEETINCS IN CLASCOW TO-DAY, (Rec. March 1, 9.15 p.m.) London, Marchl. Six engineers' mass meetings will b( held at Glasgow •;to-morrow. Th( executives of the unions hope to b< al)le to persuade the men to return 01 Tuesday. "BRirONS' LIVES IMPERILLED" "FOR THE SAKE OF A FARTHINC AN HOUR." MR. LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS OUT (Rec. March 1, 11.45 p.m.) London, March 1. Mr. Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), speaking at Bangor, saic that some workmen at the armameni factories had refused to work the ful week. ' This, said the speaker, was du< mostly to drink, which was doing mor< damage than all the German submarines The Government had great powers t< deal with the drink'traffic, and woulc use those powers fearlessly. He was sure that the country would support the Government in this, and not alio* indulgence ill liquor to interfere Witt our prospects in tb> ! war. , He had one complaint against the N avy —it prevented the country realising the fact that this was the most serious war in history, and we would not win without a long struggle. IJie Allies could muster twenty million men, and their enemies barely ton -million. "We are more in need of equipment than,men," said Mr. Lloj;d George, "and the war would he decided by the shortcomings of the ongineors. Every day's delay is-full'of peril to Britain, Wo cannot afford industrial disputes, foi time is victory. It is intolerable thai the lives of Britons should be imperilled for the sake of a farthing an hour." Questioned whether the people of Great Britain realised the necessity for the war, Mr. Lloyd George replied: "Belgium was once comfortably well off: she is now a waste. The German Army, like a wild beast, lia6 fastened its claws deep in tliat beautiful land of France, and our vigilant naval watchdog alone prevents the beast from leaping upon our shores. ■; Britain's Porll. "Wo are conducting the war as jf there were no war. There is a danger that Britain, i\y neglect, sloth, and heedlessness, may prolong the country's ajrony and endanger the completeness of the triumph. Employers, workers, and the general public must not together or we delay the' Imperial victory. The spirit in which Germany is making potato- bread is riot a laughable one, but to be dreaded more than von Hinburg tog;-. It is the spirit, in which' a couuU'2 should meet a groat

emergenoy. The average Briton must be equally willing to turrender the comforts, and even the necessities, of life. "The employers and workers on the Clyde' hare been spending a fortnight in disputing, but we cannot afford fliie leisurely method. There is much to be said for and against compulsory arbitration, but during a war the Government ought to have power to settle disputes. If the workmen ought to get more let the Government tind it out, and give it them. If not, the men must not throw down their tools."

,"The country cannot afford it," continued Mr. Lloyd George. "The regulations restricting the output ought to be suspended in war time, when battles are being fought; the workshops of Britain, and Trance are equally battiofiolds. lam sorry to say that some of the workers are shirking their duty in this emergency, but a small minority can throw the works out of gear." Russia's Example. Russia, knowing her deficiencies, had pulled, herself together, and stopped the drink traffic. France had abolished the absinthe traffic. The British Government did not propose anything so drastic, but it had great powers, and meant to use them discreetly and fearlessly. "We are at war I" he concluded. "It is the greatest war ever fought by this or any other country, and the future of the human race for generations depends on the result. fi Germany, is triumphant she will be the dictator of the international policy of tho world. France is now. fighting to shake off the nightmare which followed 1870, when she cowered in terror before this monster. Gormany made this quarrel Tilth the same cool. calculation that she makes a new gun. If she is victorious we will not be the vassals of the Germans' noblest 6ongs, sciences, and philosophies, but of a Germanyx which speaks through the raucous voice of Krupp's artillery, and seeks to quench every a park of freedom in rivers of blood!" The Chancellor had a great reception. WH AT FRANCE THINKS OF IT; SHOULD WORK FOR A PITTANCE IF NECESSARY. (Rec, March 1, 5.30 p.m.) London, March 1. The Press Bureau states: 'A British officer with the French troops writes that the war will last until either the German armies are beaten or the German nation is starved. "Germany ifi short of wheat, and has taken drastic measures to prevent the. supply entirely failing before the nest harvest. Germany can reckon on being able to oontinue the war until the middle cf I 1916."

Another . writer declares that to ensure the defeat of the Germans while that nation'is still hungry, France will require from Britain more reserves and more explosives. The French peoplo are impressed and astonished when, told that a million more men have been recruited in England on a voluntary basis. When informed that the putting of these into the field is delayed ,by the difficulty of producing rifles and . explosives and other necessaries, they are .incredulous. Their belief/in Britain's manufacturing power ,< ig unbounded. 'If,' ihey say,' ' imon aro ready to give their lives, the remaining millions should be to give tbcir labour for a pittance, ;if needed, to attain the desired end.'.?,'—'.'Times" and Sydney "Sun" bervices.' .:

DEMANDS OF THE MINERS. BASED ON CONTRACTORS' HIGH PROFITS. , The Miners' Federation of Great' Britain is seeking .an immediate advance owing to the increased cost of living. A conference to arrange details of the demand 1 is for March 17. Notices aro to be given, throughout the kingdom on April 1, with a view to obtaining new agreements. The conference to decido details of these has been fixed for April 28. Five of the district committees of the Clyde Engineers have docided to support the executive's recommendation to resume work immediately. Mr. Appleton, secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions,_ defends the workers' patriotism and justifies their action in the crim to tha.

contractors' high profits, and the senoud ' increase of the prices of food. coal, and otter necessaries'. .■ j LIVERPOOL CARTERS ACCEPT i ' COMPROMISE. ) London, March 1. I The Liverpool carters, wlio demanded | an increase of 6s. a week, have agreed to accept 3s. .■ ' ' " I i — • J TRADING WITH THE ENEMY j LAXITY IN OVERSEAS DOMINIONS. i (Rec. Miroh. 1, 9.15 p.in.) ■: ■ ! London, March' L-' j The Board of Trade has issued a wsnu ing forbidding persons in the overseas | Dominions^to carry merchandise destined : ' for or coming from the enemy's country. •' I The Board states that it is incumbent I on shipowners to take precautions, as there is reason to fear that there hare 1 > been cases of business laxity and lack I or proper inquiry. | j INCIDENT FROM TOGOLAND j loyal chief OP THE 'AWTTTTAB, j London, February 27. . , Ine rro;s Bureau reports that during' ' the recent operations in Togoland tho ' chief of the Awunas offered' to concentrate his fighting men and attack the ■! German capital. Though the suggestion: ' i could not be accepted, he supplied spies, carriers, and railway guards. His Ger-~ vices were recognised by- the gift of a decorated sword.—"Times" and Sydney i "Sun" Services. - ; - i I' . " '■ | I SPAIN AS A PEACE MEDIATOR PRESS A' DIFFICULT, FACTOR* > ~ -5 ' _ - London, February 27. i Count Romanones has informed the •' .1 Fress. "that lie considers Spain peculiarly •, j united, on account of her position' in/his-towi'.-to'.'act'as mediator' between the •! belligerents. It is feared, however, that the partisanship desplayed in tho Spanish Press will prejudice her'naturaf : advantages.—"Times" and- Sydney, 3 ■ ! "Sun" Services. • - .A. STRANGE CONTRAST / J AUSTRIAN AND HUNGARIAN CAPITALS. ' I , , London, February 27. £ A neutral observer writes:. The con* '■ Crast of Vienna arid Budapest-is 'impress. 1 sive. If Vienna is apathetic and iuicub cerned, Budapest is alive with activity.-' I The war is popular, and" everyone'is eager to impress visitors that this is 1 their war. They began the conflict. Tho • i fact that it has become" the greatest - ' i war the world -has ever known fills ' every Magyar's heart with pride, and is proving one of the strong elements m the whole Hapsburg realm. . That, the ' assassination of ■ Archduke Ferdinand > gave the Magyars the opportunity'they " 'i have, long waited ; for is • ohe '' o f,:th<s : ' | grimmest travesties in history, because > the greatest relief was felt at Budapest 1 at the removal of the/'Archduke, the . •' i one obstacle in the way of . Magyai : | domination of the Dual Monarchy.—> i "Times" and Sydney "Sun" Servioes, ~' '