The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-10
UNDER MOB RULE.
London Is at the Mercy of the
Strikers.
The Calling Out of Troops Seems
to Be Inevitable.
POLICE is POWERLESS.
Fish POrters Granted Demands
and Return to Work.
Hundreds of Railroad Carmen
Quit Their Jobs.
POLICE is POWERLESS

London, Aug. 10.-The neighborhood
of the docks was practically under mob
rule today with the result that there
was such a dwindling of food supplies
that the metropolis experienced some
thing akin to what might happen if a
hostile foreign force should succeed in
interrupting Great Britain's trade
routes.
Unless progress is made today in the
negotiations looking to a settlement of
the strike of dock workers, the calling
out of troops seems inevitable, as the
police are unable to deal with the
emergency.
The only quarter where relief was ex-
perienced was Billings Gate. There the
striking fish pOrters obtained all they
wished and returned TO work today. On
the other hand. hundreds of railroad
carmen quit this morning and several
stations were practically in a state of
siege, strike pickets preventing by
force all attempts to handle goods.
It was the intention of the strikers
to tie up all street traffic unless their
demands were conceded within a few
hours Should they be successful Lon
Don would be perilously near actual
famine conditions.
The stream of motor traction today
was hardly half it's usual proportions.
SO short was the supply of petrol that
hundreds Of motor buses and taxi
cabs were unabl to move wheel.
The only traffic passing without fear
of interference was that of vans carry
ing hospital stores. These were labelled
with big Red Cross signs, with a per-
nit from the strike committee explain
ing that they must not be interfered
with. Until this system of Identified
ton was adopted this morning the hos
pitals felt a shortage of ice and other
supplies.
Thousands of tons of fruit. vege-
tables and provisions are citing on the
wharves and in the railway freight de-
pots. Unless they can be moved soon
they threaten to endangs sr the general
health. Among the larger consignment
which probably will be dead loss is
a huge quantity of California fruits
aboard the steamer Minnehaha. The
central meat and provisions markets
are short of supplies and prices have
advanced alarmingly.
| Today the temper of the strikers ap-
peared ugly and scenes OF violence in
creased. Throughout the East end
clashes were frequent wherever at
tempts were made to move a wagon.
The men would intervene and, brush
| ing aside the inadequate police squads,
overturn the wagons and scatter their
loads in the gutter. Police charges
were made every few minutes but
they were not strong enough to have
much effect. Those taking part in the
conference of the board of trade
which is seeking a settlement. state
that they are getting Learer a solu-
tion each time they meet and are de-
termined to sit throughout tonight II
there seems to be a possibility OF
reaching a settlement.
| Soldiers at Liverpool
| Liverpool Aug. 10.-Detachments of
| troops arrived here today to assist the
police, who have been unable to control
| the rioting strikers. A fusilIade OF
| brickbats and stones met the soldiers
but they finally took up strategic posi-
| tions and enabled the police through a
| succession of baton charges, to effect a
clearance of the provisions and other
| goods at the central railway station. A
| baton charge was required with each
/ load of goods that left the place and
| when the police, at last exhausted re-
| tired. their places were taken by
mounted men