CIVIL WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 53, 8 July 1913, Page 5

CIVIL WAR.

THE JOHANNESBURG RIOTS

MANY DEAD AND DYING

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright! [United Press .Association.] Johannesburg, July 7.

The dragoons three times charged the. mob surrounding tne /land Club. The later re-formed each time, maintaining a fusilade of missiles. An officer ordered them to lire, and after the volley ten lay dead. Many were also wounded, hour strikers, armed with rifles, stretched themselves on the ground and maintained a steady hre. The soldiers also lay prone on the ground. One striker crossed the line where he was warned not to come. A trooper three times warned him to retire. The trooper then fired with fatal effect. Another man crossed the line, spread out his arms, and shouted, “Kill me, if you like.” Again there were warnings from the trooper, and again a fatal shot. Heads peered round the building and jeered at the soldiers. Two of those jeering were shot after a triple warning. A crowd, believing a story that a member of the Club named Cudleigh had deliberately killed four strikers, proceeded to wreck Chudleigh’s premises. They fired shots at the building, and smashed the windows and exploded dynamite in an attempt to loot and burn the place. A detachment of cavalry dispersed them.

UNDER MARTIAL LAW

Two civilian corps, armed with ball cartridges, guarded the residences in Park Town, where many of the mining magnates lived. There were some fearful and frequent threats from desperadoes, not legitimate strikers, who were resorting to dynamite. When martial law was proclaimed, the inhabitants were, ordered to remain in their houses after dusk on pain of being shot.

Troops occupied the centre of Loveday street wiiere it bisects Commissioner street, thus commanding four istreets, which were raked by rifle lire, the rioters refuging in tlie side streets. The sight of the dead and dying and the wounded littering Commissioner and Lovcday streets, made a deep impression on some of the strikers.

The strikers consider the terms inadequate. The leaders announced the terms from the balcony of the Carlton Hotel. They met with a mixed reception, being greeted with cries of “What about the shooting ?” “What about the dead?” ‘You've been bought!”' While the meeting was in progress an exciting incident occurred. A small company* of police apn’roached the oowd with rifles in readiness to fire on those on the balcony, The latter shouted “Police.” When the mob saw the police, their anger rose and the leaders had the utmost difficulty to restrain an attack on the police. General Botha and .Messrs Smuts and Truler appeared on the balcony. The 'latter realised the situation and ordered the police to retire.

A SETTLEMENT ACCEPTED

A mob at Bonone burned a number of shops and cottages belonging to strike breakers and sympathisers, and also blew up the Star branch office.

Fifteen hundred natives at Randfontein broke out of the compound, armed with pickhandles. The hussars charged them and drove them back.

The strike leaders have announced that all the miners have accepted the settlement.

A meeting of twelve hundred members of federated trade unions at Pretoria carried a resolution requesting the Imperial Government to recall Mr Gladstone over his action regarding the strike.

G 0 VERNOR-G ENE R AL’ S WITHDRAWAL DEMANDED,

(Received 9.20 a.m.) London, July 7

Mr Keir Hardie has received a cable signed by the citizens of Blbemfonteir. demanding Mr Gladstone’s withdrawal for using Imperial troops against the strikers.

DISCUSSING THE POSITION

Johannesburg, July 7

Several miners have resumed work, though numbers attended the funeral of those killed.

A deputation of strike leaders discussed with General Botha the protection extended to the .strike-break-ers, to which numbers of strikers object. The strike leaders state that the Government has asked the Bn ion representatives to formulate their grievances. STOCK EXCHANGE RELIEVED.

(Received 11.20 a.m.) London, July 7

Considerable relief is expressed on the Stock Exchange over the end ol the Rand trouble. Consols are at 72'. A general recovery is delayed owing to the Balkan situation.

SETTLEMENT REPUDIATED

REVOLUTIONARY PARTY’S TACTICS.

(Received 11.50 a.m.)

Capetown, July 7

The strike leaders met Messrs Botha and Smuts, who promised to inquire into the question of provision for the dependents of those killed and for those wounded. They authorised the announcement that the Government

alone was responsible for the clause in the settlement relating to strikebreakers.

Meanwhile 3000 militant and ultraSooialistic strikers carried a resolution repudiating the leaders’ settlement, and declared that the strike continues. Then they marched to Braamfontein to bring out the railway men. Kendall, the chief speaker, announced the formation of a now 1 nion of South African workers, representing the revolutionary party.

THE KILLED AND WOUNDED,

(Received 8.5 a.m.) Johannesburg, July 7. Twenty were killed and 150 wounded on Saturday.

SEEKING THE REASON

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [Sydney Sun Special Cable.] (Received 8.25 a.m.)

Johannesburg, July 7

The Leader, writing of the riots, states that the miners, who are mostly Cornkshmen and strong supporters of the Government, were disposed to attribute at least a share of the present trouble to their supposed support of the Government.