The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-08-18
Thousands Of Men Have Obeyed
the Strike Order, and the
Chief Cities are Arm
ed Camps
OUTBREAKS IN THE PROVINCES
Conditions There are More Serious
Than in and About London-At
Port Of Liverpool the Cha
os is Complete.

London, Aug. 1S.-The fight between
the railroads and their employees is on
i'm dead earnest. Thousands have
obeyed the strike order. The govern
ment and board of trade are contn-
uing efforts toward peace, but the old
deadlock between the unions and the
managers appears to have re-assert-
ed itself today. The chief cities of
England are armed camps. large
number of blue jackets from warships
at Portsmouth were ordered to stand
by with view of the possibility OF
having To land to replace the garrison
troops which were ordered into the
strike area. The suffering of the
poorer classes Is widespread.
The military held possession of all
stations along the lines, not for the
purpose at present of interfering i'm
the strike, but to protect men desiring
To work and guard the property of the
companies. In the meantime the gov
ernment continued its efforts to avert
a general stoppages of the transport
service of the country.
Conferences Held Today.
President Buxton of the board of
trade again met the railroad managers
and the officials of the union were i'm
session considering the governments
suggestion for the appointment of a
royal commission which should in
vestigate and report what amend
ments, II any. should be made to the |
Cancellation agreement now existing |
explained. by Chancellor Lloyd George
i'm the Commons last night. The
Chancellor explained, wnen the men
had refused the acceptance of COM
mission that they had misunderstood
the premier's proposal. Ii was in
tended, he said, To give them fair
play and not "to lure out OF their
hands the great weapon of striking"
The statement of the Chancellor had
much 20 do with preventing more
general response TO the leaders call
for strike. Many even of the union
men, were reluctant to quit so long
as there was a possibility of their
grievances being adjusted by an inn
partial body.
Will Shoot to Kill.
Fiifty thousand troops arrived in
London during the night, and early
this morning found them encamped at
points where they would be able to
protect the lines of communication
according to a plan worked out by a
commission composed of railroad men
and military men appointed To adopt
a scheme for protecting these lines in
the event of foreign invasion.
The orders to the military officers
are strict. There is to be no firing
over heads of mobs I'm case of riot
but after the riot act has been read
ball cartridges. with one hundred
rounds of which each soldier has been
supplied. are to be used. Union lead
ers this afternoon expressed them
selves as satisfied with the response
Ia the strike orders They claimed
two hundred thousand men had quit
work. .....-
Serious in the Provinces.
Conditions in the provinces are
somewhat more serious than In ana
about London West England was
completely cut off and there was some
disorder at Birmingham At Man
chester business is at a standstiil as
the teamsters arc still out today, whlle
at Liverpool the chaos was complete
Train service at Liverpool is pracuc-
ally suspended. The platforms at
that place are piled high with bag
gage. belonging chiefly to Americans
who had gone there with the hope OF
securing passage to America on out
going liners. Throughout Wales
where the unions are strong, there is
almost total stoppage of traffic.
AS the day progressed serious re-
ports came. The strikers took pos
session of railway line at llaneily'
seaport of Wales. and succeeded In
repulsing the police who attenmted to
drive them off,
Situation is Critical.
So critical does the government re-
gard the strike situation that the cab
met decided parliament would not
adjourn today as had been arranged.
AT meeting arranged by the Am
algamated Secretary of Railway Serv-
ants this afternoon. Assistant Secre-
tary Thomas blamed the government
Tor the strike and appealed to all rail-
road men to join the great fight Tor
emancipation. The speaker said;
Scotland is already cut on Traffic
In Wales Is absolutely stopped There
Is no communication between Bristol
ana channel ports. and within another
hVe hours the whole railway system
IN the United Kingdom will be stop
ped. The railway unions mean to
Hight to the finish"