New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-14
Government Swiftly Retail
iates After Trades Fed
Grafton Proclamation.
GENERAL STRIKE
TO GO INTO EFFECT
If Miners Obey Strike Order
Natives Will Be Escorted
Back TO Their KraalS.
~ cahI. % Nc Tr-bans ]


who went on strike on account Of GER
tain retrenchments made by the gov
eminent affecting railway employees.
Premier Botha's government IN
stantly replied to the general strike or
der by proclaiming martial law.
johannesburg remains quiet for the
moment. a big defence force concen-
trated at the centre Of the disturbance.
Seventy thousand men are under arms
and newspapers have suspended pub
ucation The government has com
Wandered the coal supplies, and the
distribution thereof is 10 be intrusted
10 a committee Of public safety. sim
liar measures will shortly be taken in
connection with food supplies.
The native laborers in the mines Will
be repatrated if the necessity arises.
In spite of the reassuring tone Of the
official statements the public OF Natal
is taking a serious view Of the situa j.
ton. n il realized that Premier Botha
has 10 deal with An exceptional STUD
ton created by the sinister aims OF
those who control the strike movement.
Cape Town. Jan. t.. A general strike
throughout South Africa was pro-
claimed tonight by the Trades Fed
Grafton. and the Rand miners by two
thirds majority voted to join in the
movement. Governmental retaliation
was swift. II took the form OF the
proclamation of martial law.
This was the only step the authori-
ties believed adequate to meet the stu
alton. for the strike Of the miners
means not only the turning loose OF the
most turbulent spirits in the Rand but
raises the whole question OF the posi-
ton Of the native workers. lf the
J miners actually obey the strike order
the government will Immediately take
steps TO send the natives under escort
back TO their kraals.
This means that about two hundred
thousand natives must be marcheu
back by road TO their homes at enor-
nous cost. II will be most difficult
after the end of the strike 10 recruit
them again. In brief, such a step
would mean disaster for the Rand fot
many years.
Although official reports from JONAH
nesburg show improvement in the tram
service. reports from other districts arc
less encouraging. In Natal the sltua'
ton Is one of great tension, and II is
feared that the loyalty Of the trainmer
will not stand the strain much longer
An instance OF the mems temper Is
shown by the action OF an engine
driver. who quit his train on the veldt
and left the passengers stranded.
The Union government remains hrm
in it's attitude. The Premier, Genera
Louis Botha, is said to have declared
that he would guarantee that with the
end of the present crisis there would
not be another workers strike In Soutr
Africa for a generation
Feeling runs high between the gov
ernments supporters and the strikers
and the chance of mediation is practi'
cally hopeless. The Supreme Court has
granted an application compelling th'
government to show cause why the
strike leaders should remain in prison.
Premier Botha addressed a circular
to the natives advising them TO obey
! implicitly the compound managers, as
surfing them the fullest protection. anC
the circular seems to have had an ex'
cellent effect.
| Practically no Information is at hanc
as TO conditions in the Orange Free
State. but improvement there is moi
considered probable.
| From the governments point Of View
about the only ray Of light to-day va,
the assurance from the Indian leaIei
Gandhi that the passive resistance
movement by the Indians against -nell
grievances would be dropped during
the present trouble.
The strikers are now making siren
uous attempts 10 bring out the run
ming STATS Of the Cape Colony Rail
ways, but the pickets are not Above
10 approach within a hundred yards OF
| the quarters where the railway en-
ployes are housed.
All strike meetings to-day were re
markable for the moderate tone of th'
speakers. who advised the men to pro
coed with the organization Of then
own police force and keep the peace
so we'll that the tremendous display q
force by the government would DE mad.
ridiculous. The government is already
threatening TO institute press cen
sorship as strict as prevailed in war
/ time.
! Johannesburg. Jan. i3.-The genera
: strike OF all the trades in South Afrci
was declared by ballot. which shovel
/ q majority OF four 10 one. The strike II
set for midnight. All street cars sus
nended service here this evening for al
! indefinite period. All employees OF th'
banks are armed and sleeping in tn
buildings.
No natives are allowed abroad afte
dark. and the members Of the Cabine
venture out only when accompanied b,
armed guards.
General Jan Christian SHUTS. the Min
| lister of Defence OF the Union OF Sout
Africa III addressing the Committee o
| Public Safety here to-day said AS
warning TO the strikers that II IN
! burghers citizens defence force had 10 b
called into Johannesburg they would nc
I 4 bv4 qpirtf ma. IA,