The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-19
RAILWAY SERVICE
IS DEMORAL|zEO
Scores of Thousands of
Employees Are on
Strike.
LONDON IS LIKE
AN ARMED CAMP
On All Sides Are Soldiers in
Khaki, With Rifles in Hand
and Bullets in Belt-Govern-
ment Still Striving Des-
perately to Effect
Settlement.

London, August ls.-Scores of thou
sands OF railway employees throughout
the United Kingdom are on strike to-
night. and tratfic everywhere is badly
disorsanized
The leaders OF the Amalgamated So
ciety of Railway Servants declare that
100000 men, or nearly half the total
of employees OF the railways of Eng
land. Ireland. Scotland and Wales
have answered their Gull to stop work
Managers OF the railways. however
cay these figures are greatly exag-
gerated There is no method By which
verifcation OF either assertion is pos
sible. but the fact IS patent that the
railway service all over the country
Is completely demoral!zed, even a lin
tied passenger service being possible
only with the greatest difficulty
Never before have the ministers OF
British government made such earnest
efforts TO ward of d great labor war,
yet tonight they have been unable 10
stay movement that promises to en-
tail Inconvenience. possibly misery 10
millions o. people.
Like Armed Camp.
London has the appearance of an
armed camp for on all sides are 10 be
and leaden bullets in their belts. while
from the dome OF ST Pauls the engineers
are keeping In communication with
the general staff by photographic sig
nails in the daytime and by electric
flashes at night.
Undeterred By their failure on Thurs
day TO effect n settlement. the whole
OF to-day was spent by Pre- I!er AS
quith. David Lloyd George. Chancellor
OF the Exchequer. and by Sidney Bux-
ton, president OF the Board of Trade.
in frult!ess conferences with the lead
ers on both sides.
An otficial statement, issued at the
Home Once late tonight says the
strike has developed all over the coun-
try and produced a widespread. though
only partial. dislocatlon OF the railway
service. Il adds that as far as presen,
information goes. over two-thirds of
the railway men remain at their posts,
and the companies are receiving nu-
merous applications FOR employment.
The statement notes the absence OF Sc
rioGs disorders and that the military
authorities have the situation thor
oughiy under control II also refer.
TO the settlement Of the London dock
strike, and says there Will be a re-
sumption in the unloading of cargoes
Tomorrow
The statement concludes by announc-
ing that Mr.. Lloyd George and Mr.
Buxton still are endeavoring to ar
range an amicabla settlement OF the
railway troubles on fair terms.
On the best information. what leo
pardizes the negotiations is less the
obduracy OF the strike leaders than the
intractab!lity OF the strikers them
Selves. manifested through their
provincial and local secretaries
1t is stated that Ramsay Macdonald
and Arthur Henderson. labor leaders
in the House of Commons, and other
men high In union circles. spared no
effort to induce the mems executives
TO ACCEPT the governments proposals
but without success. The negotiations.
however. will be resumed tomorrow.
Issues Special Prnyer
The Archbishop OF Canterbury has
issued special prayer for a cessation
OF the strike, which will be used in all
the churches tomorrow and Sunday.
Broadly speaking. the strike is most
effective in the north OF England
where many towns are completely tso-
lated, and in the south of Wales. On
the whole. there Is much less disorder
than had been expected. only sporadic
conflicts arising from intimida ton OF
strikers By pickets. attacks on trains
and signal boxes. the cutting of wires
etc.
-
concerned, either in the hotels. res
taurants or in the stores. show but
little change.
Tonight the railway companies an
nounced that all their excursion trains
had been withdrawn from service. This
will make the usual week-end trips
TO the country by the populnce impos-
sible.
One of the gravest features of the
situation in London is a threatened
Strike by the employees of the under
ground railways. Hundreds of thou
sands of persons use the tubes to get
to and from their business, and their
stoppage would greatly increase the
suffering and decentralization caused
by the strike on the steam RAILWAYS
Thus far, according to the officials of
the underground companies, only 800
OF their employees have struck. This
is but small percentage of the men,
but the detection already has cur
tailed the service. and only few
trains were running tonight