The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-18
LONDON A CAMP
Fifty Thousand Soldiers Are in
the British Capital
To Protect Railway Property
and Maintain Order.
TRAFFIC is CRIPPLED
But Paralysis of Transportation
Is Not Yet Complete.
Some Remain at Work Hoping
for Settlement.
TRAFFIC is CRIPPLED


tween the railroad companies and the
striking union employees Is on in dead
earnest today. Thousands have obeyed
the strike order and other thousands
have continued at w-rs. The com
panies are operating their principal
trains under modified schedules.
The government and the hoard of
trade are continuing their efforts to-
ward peace. but the oil deadlock be-
tween the unions and the managers
appears to have reassured itself. The
managers had a prOl slged meeting
with members of the board, but as
far as could be learned the railroad
companies decline to bulge from their
stand of making no further concession
beyond submitting the dispute to the
royal commission suggested by the
government
The chief cities of England are
armed camps. The stations, work
shops signal posts tunnels and bridges
are guarded by soldiers. Clerks have
been pressed into service to aid the
non-strikers in moving the trains. De-
spite the efforts of the company, traf-
fic is demOralized and the shortage of
food supplies threatens a famine at
some points. There has been rioting
at Birmingham. Derby, Sheffield and
at Llanelly, Wales
The government views the Industrial
war as so grave that parliament did
not adjourn as had been expected to-
day, but viii continue prepared to
adopt any emergency legislation the
moment it is necessary.
Sydney Buxton, president of the
Board of Trade, who had an early
morning call from ViscOunt Richard D.
Haldane, secretary of state for war.
again met the railroad managers and
the officials of the union were in ses-
sion at Unity hall considering the gov
erument's uggestion for the appoint
ment of q royal commission which
should investigate and report what
amendments. if any, should be made
TO the conciliatiOn agreement now ex
listing between the owners and en-
ployees as explained by Chancellor Da-
vtd Iloyd-George in the house of coru-
mons last night
When the suggestion Of royal COM
mission was made by Premier Asquith !
yesterday 1t was accepted by the man.
ayers. but rejected by the men. who
seemed to feel that such an arrange
ment would mean a long delay in the
adjustment of their grievances
The chancellor explained that the
men had misunderstood the prenlier's
proposal It was intended. he said. to
give them fair play and not ito lure
out of their hands the great weapon
Of striking
Arbitration Plan.
The plan was to appoint a commits
sion of three, one from the railway
companies, one from the strikers and
the third. the chairman, a man well
known for his impartiality. Its mem
bers would be appointed on Saturday
and its deliberations begin on Monday
The chancellor said he had not given |
up hope that the employees would |
accept this arrangement when its pur-
poses We're thoroughly understood The |
statement of the chancellor had mucn |
10 do with preventing a more general |
response to the leaders call for IL |
strike.
Many even of the union men were re- |
luctant to quit so long as there was Il /
possibility of their grievances being /
considered by an impartial body Sons /
7uUUO troops arrived in London during /
the night, and early morning found /
them encamped at points where they /
we're able to protect the lines of com /
munlcatiOn according to q plan worked |
out months ago by a commission com |
posed Of railroad men and military men
appointed to adopt a scheme for pro /
tectlng these lines in the event Of for /
elgn invasion. The plan worked per /
tectly last night and long before Lon /
doners were about this morning the
various military units were at their |
posts
Should the strike become general the
solulers could help but little in moving /
the trains, as there are only three rail- !
way companies of royal engineers
lhey, however are able to protect tho
roads and the men working. The or
ders to the military officers in tnse
connection are strict. There is to be
no firing over the heads of the MON
IN case of a riot, but after the riot act
has been read ball cartridges with 100
rounds, of which each soldier has been
supplied, are to be used
Wire Cutting Begins.
The troops were placed chiefly il, +ba
passenger and freight depots and at the
slsnai boxes. some Of which have al
ready been disconnected by wire cnt-
'lhS ana attacked by stone throwers
ana at the tunnels. bridges and work.
shops At each point one or two men /
stood guard with drawn bayonets while
the rest of the company busted them
selves with their horses and accoutre-
ments. Six inbred men guarded the /
general poStofflce to prevent interfer- /
ence with the mail carts and further /
to emphasize the military control in /
London.
A little group of uniformed men from
me slgnal corps took up station in (
The dome of the s.. PauTs cathedral /
from which they kept the diferent /
UNITS IN touch with the general staff at
the war office. Scarcely any of the
railway lines centering at London Of /
- II col-lplete service and even the /
underground and tube systems were
affected to some extent. Corn,,-7tor~
TINS morning in many cases took the
street railways or busses to avoid tbe
crush at the railway stations and in
lne tubes where the elevator men
ctusec trouble by joining the strikers
aiter working for two hours.
L"nnon's elaborate underground svs
leln' including the metropolitan dis
trlct railweys had difficulty in orerat-
ing hecause of a strike of the men
AZ one station. Eastman, through which
iO 1'alhs could pass Thus at times