New-York tribune., 1913-11-19
STRIKE IN NATAL
SPREADS TO COAST
Force of Armed ToWnsmen Being
Enrolled at Ladysmith to
Combat East Indians.


London, Nov. 19.-The color line
trouble among the British East Indies
in South Africa continued yesterday.
Natal needs their labor, but refuses
them full citizenship. The situation
is critical at Durham, where there are
5000 Indians now on strike.
At Ladysmith serious rioting has oc-
CURED as a result of the irruption of
striking coolies and their families from
the neighboring coal mines of Eland-
slaagte. famous as the scene Of the
second battle of the Boer War. After
sharp skrmish the coolies were dis
persed, but before that could be
achieved it was necessary TO call out
and arm the townspeople.
Terrorism is rampant and the police
are coming across patches Of jabbering
mobs journeying from one estate to an
other, bent on mischief. The strikers
have temporarily succeeded in getting
the whip-hand Of the Europeans and
are threatening and demonstrating.
They say they mean 10 carry out their
threats, and that if the planters make
any move to get help from the govern
ment they will set fire to all the sugar
cane on the north coast Of Natal.
Most of the European women and
children have left the sugar estates for
Durham.
IT lib ~
East Indians spread to-day right along
TO the south coast, and practically every
workman Of that race In Natal had laid
down his tools this morning The at
mosphere was, however. not so much dis
turbed as II had been yesterday, the white
women and children having overcome
their first paroxysm of fear but the au-
thorities consider II possible that disor-
ders may break out at any moment, as
serious allegations are being made con-
cerning the III treatment of the strikers
in their compounds, all OF which stories
are believed by the East Indians
One East Indian died in the coal mining
town Of Dundee, some twenty miles north
of Ladysmith the town which was be-
sieged so long by the Beers In the late
war. II is alleged that the mans death
was brought about by flogging, and this,
with the arrest OF about two thousand OF
their nationals for defiance of the federal
law prohibiting the emigration OF Ash
atics from one state to another OF the
Union of South Africa, has greatly ex-
cited the East Indians. Of whom there
are many thousands in Natal and tho
other colonies Of South Africa.
In order 10 draw the attention OF the
in,Derial government to this condition ot
things these men had marched across the
Transyaal border from Natal, and most
Of the East Indians have refused to pay
the poll tax of $l5 a heao HhpoSeu oii
East Indians in Natal.
AS the East Indians do practically all
the labor I'm Natal. including that OF the
farms. the railroads the sugar, tea anu
waffle plantations and the mines ana on
most of the mechanics and domesucs are
East Indians, a general strike OF ,he
men ~ this race throughout South Africa
would tie up all the industries In Nd'"'
alone there were, according TO the census
OF 1911. over 10000 East Indians ana o,her
Asiatics, while in the other colonies there
are many thousands more.
Ladysmith. Natal, Nov. la-Apout
thousand East Indians started riouhs
here this afternoon, claiming. as BRUSH
subjects, equal rights with the white men
The mounted police finally dispersed the
mob, but the East Indians appear to DO
dangerously infamed.
The disaffection is regarded here as so
grave that a force of armed to"nsmen
is being enrolled and the police have been
provided with revolvers.
The East Indians returned at night 10
Elandslaagte. one hours distance from
Ladysmth. Fears of a renewal OF the
outbreak were so far disspated that the
volunteer police dsbanded.
CLEW IN kiEFF MURDER.
London, Nov. l9.-An odessa dispatch
IN "The Daily Mail" saws IL is reported