CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1922, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

African Affairs.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

STRIKE HAPPENINGS. '•(Received This Dny at 8 a *n.) CAPETOWN, March 8. There was fighting, all night long at Valdepoop, strikers attacking the natives for sheer wantonness. Two natives and an Indian woman were killed, f and three natives taken to the hospital. A native doctor was wounded. A grave feature was the not unnatural disposition of the natives to,retaliate. Police casualties in yesterday’s affray with commandoes, were an officer and two men wounded.

MR SMUTS ON SITUATION. CAPETOWN, March 7

The Premier, in a statement in the Assembly, said that evidently the tempers of both parties to the Rand stride were growing worse. He declared that the Chamber of Mines’ reply to tne Federation was couched in a deplorable tone, and was followed by a worse move on the other side in declaring a general strike. The bright spot in the situation was the exemplary conduct of thie police, and he strongly deprecated disparaging references made regarding them. So far it had been unnecessary to take 'special precautions to maintain order, but it might become necessary if the situation grew worse. His services were always at the disposal of the disputants, in an endeavour to effect a settlement.

LAWLESSNESS INCREASING

NATIVES AGAIN ATTACKED

(Received This Day at 12.25 p.m.) CAPETOWN, March 8,

All attempts, to call out the railwaymen have hitherto failed. The so-called general strike, up to the present, has iiot eventuated, although owing to the intensified iiitifiiidntiou campaign. t ,w mines have been compelled to temporarily dose; The commandos are iiow largely composed of baiids of alleged hooligans. The railway between Germiston and Pretoria has been cut and a number of telephone lines have been cut. The signal station at Jeppes, the ce litre of Johannesburg, was held up at mid-night by masked meil, who blew up the railway above the subway. All trains were blocked for horn’s. Attacks ort natives at Veedegofp were resumed this morning. They were chased in all directions at the point of the revolver. Women and children took refuge in the homes of Europeans. A pitched battle occurred at Ferreiras between bands of strikers and natives. The former attacked in a cold blooded manner. The police eventually restored order.

An aeroplane squadron is circling over the town.

The latest report states six natives were killed and nineteen wounded in various attacks. The President of the Men’s Federation has issued a notice that attacks’ on natives must cease. Strikers observing anyone attacking natives must hand the offenders over to the authorities. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr Bovdell (Labour Leader) said the Rand was rapidly drifting into civil war. Ho lookeod to the Premier to end the situation by other means than the complete surrender of the men.

Mr Smuts, admitted there had been a. good deal of indiscriminate lawlessness and intimidation, but the police believed they were gradually controlling; the situation. There wais no doubt that organised workers were losing control, which was now largely in the hands of the hooligan element. H.e could not allow matters to develop into a state of anarchy and mob law. Unless there were a distinct improvement immediately, the Government would be compelled to take extra measures.