THE LABOUR WAR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 1039, 21 August 1911, Page 3

THE LABOUR WAR.

CHAOS EVERYWHERE. 200,000 RAILWAYMEN OUT. United I'rcss Association — By Elec trie Telegraph — Copyright. (Received August 19, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, August IS. The railway strike has officially begun on a considerable scale. How far it becomes general it will remain to be seen. Thousands have already joined those on strike. Fifteen hundred telegrams giving the signal to strike were despatched. (Received August 19, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. The railway strike is only partial in London. Those- concerned in the provinces tiro considering Mr Asquith's proposals. The men allege that 200,000 employees have struck throughout the country.

TURBULENT CONDITIONS. (Received August 19, 8.5 a.m.) ' LONDON, August IS. Turbulent conditions rule at Shef- ' field. A mob attempted to tear up j the line. An engine conveying police frustrated the attempt. A crowd lassoed the driver of a beer lorry and brutally assaulted liim. They burst the barrels and indulged in an orgy. The police cleared the streets with baton charges. A mob succeeded in blockading the coal depots, causing a stoppage of several works and idling thousands. The local territorials at Newcastle [ were ordered to return their-rifles to the armoury. A meeting of railway men on the principal lines at Dublin decided to strike to-day. Several colliers in the vicinity of Manchester, employing thousand men, have closed. > Pickets at the suburban stations failing to induce the signalmen to leave tiheir post, cut the signal telegraph wires. Colonel Seely, in the Commons, said where possible the reading of the Riot Aot would be proceeded by a bugle call. In reply to a query ihe said it was undesirable that the first volley should be of blank cartridges. Six thousand troops are now en- \ camped in London. • The fish industry is paralysed, causing a daily loss of £IO,OOO. The police in various centres are arranging for citizens to act as special constables. '■ Tom Mann, replying to the shipowners, said he hoped final negotiations would be resumed in a few days. i Several thousand ironworkers are J idle. I The Cambrian 'miners at Tony- ' Pandy resume on a basis of the Lon- i don agreement drafted in May. I

WEST OF ENGLAND ISOLATED. (Received August 19, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. The West of England is isolated from the Midlands. Services from Fishguard, Swansea, and many industrial centres in the north of England are stopped, alhd there is a partial suspension at Bristol and Cardiff. The majority of Midlands men in the Potteries district have accepted the bonus offered by the company j to men who remain loyal. Six hundred troops have reached Leicester. Traffic at Abercarn is suspended. It is expected twenty thousand colliery men will be idle tomorrow. \

The territorials at Salfbrd were ordered to return their rifles. A roll call, was held of Royal Engineers to ascertain the number of men capable of driving locomotives., One hundred and fifty vessels are held up at Cardiff and forty at South Shields. The cruiser Warrior carried foodstuffs to the Isle of Man. .' The colliers at Nottingham held up many Mansfield trains and the service has been abandoned. Goods traffic at Nottingham is at a standstill. The strikers attacked 'six waggonloads of meat leaving Birmingham goods station. After a sharp fight with the police the strikers were repulsed. Traffic in -is greatly disorganised. Heywood is isolated. The cotton mills will be unable to open on Monday owing to lack of cotton. , \

An express was held up in Souvli Wales for ten hours. Two signal boxes in Monmouthshire were set on fire. Thirty- seven miles of sidings at Rowsley were filled with trains. Bluejackets at Portsmouth have been ordered to be in readiness for garrison duties in the event of the troops starting for the strike areas. The public houses at Birkenhead have been ordered' to be closed in the afternoon owing to strikers' riots. Mr Churchill, in the Commons, said the Government was taking steps to ensure uninterrupted supplies of food, fuel, and other essentials. It must be clearly understood, he said, that the people's food supply and the country's safety were more important than anything else. Mr Churchill foreshadowed larger measures if they should be necessary. Troops-are guarding most of the London stations and main lines through the suburbs. The railway managers, after interviewing Mr Buxton, decided not to meat the Board of Trade officials until there was some change in the men's attitude. Viscount Elibank has, issued a "Whip" stating that Mr Asquith, in view of the grave situation in the country, has asked the House to reassemble on Tuesday. The railwaymen are urging the London tramwaymen to strike. It is reported that the whole of the transporters in the Kingdom will be called oivt on Tuesday. The Thames lightermen' strike today. - , ' The strike is seriously affecting the French export trade. It is estimated that there is a loss of £40,000 daily. Short dated loans are risen one quanfcer to one-half.