South African Crisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 15 January 1914, Page 5

South African Crisis

CK.NEiIAL STI'IKE ORDERED. MARTIAL I,AW I'Ri .'CLAIM ivL>. GOVERNMENT PKW'AUTIOXS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyngat Capetown, January 13. Ma rial law was proclaimed at midnight. The Trades Federation lias proclaimed a general strike throughout South Africa. Johannesburg, January 13. A g'eenral strike was declared uy the Trades' Federal'.on late to-night as a result of the miners' ballots and the ballots of allied trades showing a large majority in favor. In a few mines, however, a majority voted against the strike. Troops are being encamped in theii vscinity to afford adequate protection in tfhe event of them wishing to -continue work despite the general strike order. The povernntent lias formed a mobile column of "200 war veterans' for emergency service at any point. None of the burgher force has been stationed hero, the defence of the town being ■mainly handed to English volunteers. General Smuts, addressing th© Committee of Public Safety, said he was

loath to use the burghers in Johannesburg, fearing they would not tolerate what Imperial troops tolerated witho.it firing last July. Ag typical of the strong precautions which are being taken, members of, :ic Cabinet in Pretoria are being accompanied everywhere, by armed escortsWork at the (locks in Capetown is proceeding as usual. Sonic strikers at Salt River have resumed. Half of the Nafnl railwaymcn are out, mostly from the workshops.. Tin 1 train service continues normal. SEVENTY THOUSAND ARMED Mli.V. EXOI TING I)EV ELOPMENTS EXPECTED. , STRIKE HAILED WITH CHEERS. NO BREAD FOR SOLDIERS Oil POLICE. Received 14, 5.5 p.m. Capetown, January 14. Martial law covers the principal districts in tins Transvaal, Orangia, and Natal, through which the main lines pass, and includes Durban, Martizburg, Bloemfontcin, Johannesburg and -Pretoria. but does not affect the Cape province.

It is estimated that about 70,000 of the active defence force and reserves will he under arms in the Transvaal, Orangia. and Northern Natal. They will largely be, composed of ex-irregulars •.:nd burghers; consequently they are i war veterans.

Twenty thousand men will he concentrated at Johannesburg'and the Reefs, MVera! -thousands at Pretoria anil other centres, and the remainder will be occu if-d '■ picketing and patrolling' several, thousand miles of main lines,

The authorities have complete command of the situation.

Further developments, which are expected to be exciting, :'-rc awaited with keenest interest.

The Renter Agency understands that in view of the declaration of a general strike, the miners wil! cease, work at

{ p,m, to-morrow. Tt is expected that other trades will follow suit. , The pumpmen will leave with tile others. Any special case for pumping tlie mines to prevent Hooding i:llist be submitted by the management to the Federation, who will consider v• Tiie Federation delegates sat til! a late, hour with closed doors. "When the decision was announced, there were scenes of the greatest enthusiasm iu thp couiK.il room, delegates waving their i huts and handkerchiefs, and' cheering vociferously. One excited delegate thrust v, hand through the window and shouted the word "unanimous" to the | crowd of -">.'>oo outside, but they did not: [guess what the word meant, hence there

was no demonstration. Renter'.-. .Mmnnesburg correspondent

states that the Federation announced that tile ballot shows four lo one ill 1 favor of a general strike, which begins torthwilb. but sonic sections are to be allowed to work to-morroxv's shift. Tbs bakers' president (Air. Anderson) announces that all lire,id kiV.ed from noon (o-morrow will only lie delivered on :>. permit, signed by Anderson, land thai none wii! be delivered lo '.be defence force or the police. STKAXUHD I'ASSEXCr.IiS. FARMKiiS AS b'J'RIKK iJUKAKKRS." TROiil'S AVAILAIiLK Times-Sydney Suu Special t.'alilcc. Received 14. ».I'i p.m. Johannesburg, January R!. The slrikor- are peaceable, (lie leader.-, urging abstinence from violence. T!i" I;;-1 train from Durban was slopped at Allendale., in the middle of (lie veidt. The drivel' tletacheii the engine and returned, leaving the passengers stranded : Tb«> farmer.-! arc telegraphing (o (.lie cilies that they a.re ready to a.-sist in breaking the strike. The tiovernment h acting in unison with Lowl Oladstone, who intimated tliat Imperial troops would be avail- ■ aldq if required. ,

A LULL BEFORE THE STORM. THE IX>01) QUESTION. Received 15, 12.5 a.m. Capetown, January 14. The tnunwaymcn carried a resolution to strike if ttiev were called' out. Joiuiimeeburg was dull to duyv At Wie Trades Hull it was described by the miners' secretary as a lull before the storm. Coverall head s ? of departments of various industries visited the FedoraWon 'executive and discussed the terms considered essential to prevent trouble :uwl damage to property. Wilii reference to tllw Rakers' Union's prohibition as to supplying bread to the defence forces and the police, Legislator <»uiim, one of the largest of the .lo(ii.miwburg; bakers, deckred that it wa.s <|U'st« impossible to recognise this. He would himself, with volunteers, go to the bakehouse ami make bread, first to supply tllte hospitals, and then other places should recede the best attention possible. He. anticipated that manufacturers could keep the town sufficicnt-

Itur hundred tons of food ami fruit .rriit.i 10-iiav.

An aimed pati'ol saw a man placing dynamite on tie railway line near Geogcgoeh station. The patrol fired, but

missed the mail, who was identified, and

he escaped. MATABELE" WILSON'S VIEWS." SITUATION SERIOUS. Melbourne. January 14. Colonel Wilson, better known as •'•'Matabele'' Wilson, organiser of Kitchener's Fighting Scouts, is visiting Melbourne. Interviewed, he said that if the. South African strike continue.-) tin* whole of the .'IOO,OOO natives employed in the. mines will have to be sent back to their knutLs. That, would mean the cessation of the whole of the mining industry, and it would lie months, if not years, before the mines were again worked. The cost would run into millions. During the last strike there was talk of bringing in the burghers, but it was. felt that this must be avoided ii' possible, owing to the racial feeling involved. ■ Apparently the situation is now so serious that, this consideration is outweighed. it' it comes to a eoiillii't between the burghers and the strikers tiiie former will not hold their hands like Imperial troops, and the casualty roll will be considerably stronger. The strikers include L all nationalities, and their organisation is wonderful. A dangerous feature is the huge quantity of gelignite and dynamite available for men who understand their use. lie attributed the, discontent to the high and mighty attitude adopted by the big mining 'houses, who failed to realise thai times have changed and men cannot !>:■ driven by the "Id methods. The I men had had grievances for years with

respect, to (lie conditions of work,hours ;uul Wildes. Last year's trouble could have been settled by a, little ts.ct on th« ]>iirt oi the mine authorities, but they adopted a high-handed attitude. Aft":'

the set tlemi lit:, many men openly complained t-lii/t their leaders had heen bought. There wa,s dissat Uf,action bemuse the Government allegedly foiled

to carry out its settlement pledges. Colonel Wilson added that the <"!o----vcic.iucnt paid strike breakers £.V,1,(K10 for the loss of their jobs. Tile election oi Poutsnu to the secretaryship of the Itailwa;men's Society was significant of what hail now ensued. The country was in for a troubled timi'.