The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-15
BY FORCE OF ARMS
Liverpool Mob Is Held in Sub
lection by Troops.
BayOnet Charge Is Ordered to
Clear the Streets.
TWO VOLLEYS FIRED
Before the Strike Sympathizers
Could Be Dispersed.
Many Are Wounded and Large
Number Arrested.
TWO VOLLEYS FIRED

London, Aug. 15.-Liverpool. the
storm center of the strike which is
menacing the trade of Great Britain,
was under arms today. In addition to
her own police and reinforcements
from the surrounding cities 5000 troops
of infantry or cavalry under General
Mackinnon Wood were quartered in the
city. THESE troops, as was shown dur
ing the riots of the early morning, were
prepared to back up the police with
force of arms in maintaining order
The riot in Great Homer street, while
not directly connected with the strike
has had a good effect in its outcome. as
the roWdy element was subdued. The
trouble began when a constable arrest
ed man for having assaulted a Wo-
man. Roughs rescued the prisoner
from the officer and police reserves who
were hurriedly called could not control
the mob, which vented it's fury in
wrecking the shops of the neighbor-
hood. Then 200 troops were brought to
the scene. The soldiers were at once
made the target of bricks, bottles and
other missiles hurled from roofs and
windows of nearby buildings. Several
soldiers and police received shocking
wounds.
A bayonet charge was ordered and
when this failed to clear the streets
an order to fire into the air was given.
heads of the rioters with great moral
effect. number of the rioters we're
wounded by bayonet charges but none
was hit by bullets. Many of the mob
were arrested.
This forenoon things were somewhat
quieter- The response to the midnight
appeal by the strike committee for a
general strike of all transport work
ers including the railway men was not
unanimous and trucks continued to
move in the streets under guard, while
partial forces we're at work on some
of the docks. However, the Cunard
Liverpool for New York today with
other liners, was still in the stream,
unable to get away.
There was little change in the situa-
ton at London A few more dock Ia
borers returned to work and the carriers
employed by one Of the big railway
lines resumed their duties. The settle
ment made with these men was not
permanent and a resumption Of the
general strike particularly on the docks
was possible at any moment. The
grievances of the men are not serious
compared with those on which they re-
ceived concessions from their employ
ers but the men felt that the moment
was opportune to get everything they
wanted.
The number of railway strikers
throughout the country increased today
and in some places the passenger SER
vice was disorganized.
At Manchester the streets We're as
quiet as were those of London last
week, all the carriers having gone out.
The only success won thus far by the
employees was at Glasgow. where the
street railway strike has collapsed.
Today Premier Asquith held a confer
ence at his office with the other min
listers and the labor leaders, when the
whole question was discussed.
The conference was officially de-
scribed as "An informal exchange of
views as to the present unrest and the
possibilities of shortening or prevent
ing industrial disputes
There was also a conference between
the minister and representatives of the
Employers association interested in the
great staple trades. The employment
of soldiers, while heartily approved by
the Unionist party, threatens to involve
the government in a warm conflict
with their own supporters. The labor
ties and the ultra radicals are totally
opposed to lending military assistance
to the police in quelli.lg riots and
curiously the only support accorded
Home Secretary Churchill when he an
nounced in the house of commons that
a brigade of troops had been ordered
to Liverpool came from the opposition
benches
American importers vino rely on
London for their autumn stocks will in
many cases suffer from serious de-
lay in the delivery. Since the dock
strike commenced the exports for
America have been cut down to less
than one-fourth the usual quantity.
Usually during the few days previous
to the departure of the steamers, the
American consulate issues 800 to 400
invoices On no day since the strike
was declared has there been more than
eighty invoices presented by exporters.
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