Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-01
STRIKE Of THE
BRITISH MINERS.
Both Sides Firm and No Hope o!
Settlement in Sight---Will Tieup
Nations Industries.
OVER MILLION MEN ON STRIKE.
Five Million Men NAV be Idle--FactNr-
Railroads May suspend.

London. March l.--A:: hope Of al
! immediate settlement of the STRIKE
ended today when the conference be
! tween the committee of operators
miners and representatives. OF The
cabinet was adjourned until mex
Tuesday. II was stated thar bOtf
sides TO the controversy continued
firm in their original positions.
London, March 1.-The imminence
OF complete tie-up OF the nations
! Industries was impressed upon tho
public today when practically all OF
the large factories served notice upon
their men that they might be forced
20 close down at any time because oi
shortage of fuel. resulting from the
coal strife
Several OF tie biggest railroads
in the United Kingdom expected tc
be forced TO suspend. This will bring
the total of idle men to the enormous
total of five million.
On all sides it was admitted that
unless The government was able 10
force settlement within Two weeks
the food supply OF the country would
be exhausted and terrible suffering
must result.
Service was curtailed today on all
steamship lines ont Of Liverpool. No
vessels left the docks excepting the
passenger liners which were COM
PEELED TO make their regular con-
tract sailings. The port coal sup
ply was being carefully hhuabanded
bur it was admiled Thai in case the
strike was not settled. practically all
of the steamers would be lied-up
within few weeks unless enormous
supplies Of fuel can bc brought in
from foreign countries.
AT the Home Office. il was estimat-
ed today that i.0I9.407 miners had
Joined the strike. Conferences be-
tween operators. miners and govern
ment officials were again held today.
Premier Asquith was so pesSimistic
over The outlook for a settlement
in this way. however, that he detailed
members OF his cabinet TO prepare
n bill providing for minimum wage
scale for all underground workers.
to be rushed through Parliament. He
believed that this could be accom-
ity resulted.
1t was learned also that the gov
ernment was preparing TO take over
and operate q sufficient number OF
mines. if necessary. until Il settlement
could be reached.
There was great activity at tho
War Department today. Leave was
denied all soldiers and the troops
were ordered held in readiness ioI
strike service. This action was ia
ken following The outbreak in Wales
last night, when a crowd OF miners
Of the Gwedraeth Valley District
stoned 4 lrain. breaking all the win
dows and causing serious injury tC
several passengers who were cut b!
flying glass.
+ Reports from the mining districts
today stated that the strikers were
conducting themselves as if it was ;
holiday The older men remained
indoors while the younger meI
focked TO picture theatres and skat
ing rinks.
The danger of q strike had beer
known so long that the miners hat
boarded their meagre wages careful
ly and were we'll prepared TO begil
the struggle. Nearly all OF them hat
sufficient money on hand to last un
til the first strike benefits are dis
! tributed.
Strike leaders said today that th
struggle would be carried on withon
violence unless the men were goadeI
10 action by the authorities.