UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 207, 2 March 1914, Page 2

UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

AVCKLANDER'S EXPERIENCE. A vivid description of the town, of Johannesburg under martial law is given by an .old Auckland boy writing to his parents from that city' on January 15. "The town to-day," lie*says, " presented quite an animated appearance—military, police, and burghers all armed to the teeth. Business is paralysed, all the theatres closed, and no work to do until martial law is lifted. The mobilising of all the defence force was a brilliant piece of work, and bad this not been accomplished f do not expect there would bo much of Jolmnnesburg left, us all the roughs are loaded up with dynamite and high explosives. However, as soon as martial law was proclaimed' »ll did their best to get riil of it, with a result that last night a bis; cxulosion took place away on the. veldt. Anyone caught with explosives will be shot on sight. "The hooligan clement was pretty rife last night, but I think most were captured. 1 live right in the centre of the city, and saw all that was going on. For instance, some 50 ■hooligans were 'looin»' two of the mounted police, and another batch came to their assistance, which resulted in the arrest of the lot. The proclamation of ma-tial law saved the situation, otherwise there would have been a different tale to tell. '•I think this result will put an end for many years to come to further strikes. Not only .have we this fierce question to fight, but there is a danger of the natives breaking loose, and" if this were to happen we should be all wiped out. The strong stand of the Government at its •■inception quelled this ■threatened outbreak, and stron" »uanl« were placed at the mines. filr lVe .', special permit (from 8 a.m. to 5 pm") so that 1 can keep an eye on the office. 1 have armed police J. all parts as I do not know whether it will be attacked with bombs, in one town the military gave the mob four minutes to clear the streets—they were clear alright."