The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-25
DEpORTED STRIKERS
LAND UNDER PROTEST
South African Leaders Greeted
by English Comrades and
Taken to London.
DESCRIBE THE STRIKE
Men Declare Government Is
Trying to Make Settle
ment a BOer Colony.
DESCRIBE THE STRIKE
Special Cable Despafch TO TIE Sex.

Special Cable Despdfch 10 The SUN
LONDON. Feb. "a. The dozen strike
leaders whom the government of the
Union Of South Africa got rid OF during
the recent general strike there by the
simple expedient Of hustling them aboard
the steamship Umgeni and deporting them
to England arrived here this evening.
They include President Watson Of the
South African Federation OF Trades. Sec
retary Balm of the same organisation and
II. J. Poutsman. secretary OF the railroad
mems organization. The latter has been
termed the "Jim Larkin OF South Africa"
The deported strikers, who arrived of
Gravesend aboard the steamer 'Umgeni
this morning, refused at first to land. say
ing they would stay on the ship until they
were sent back to South Africa. They
were persuaded later to change this plan.
After several hours sh!llyshailying with
a deputation OF British laborites they
came ashore and went to the Grafton
Hotel here ms the guests Of the English
labor party.
Left ship Under Protest.
Before leaving the Umgeni they gave
formal statement In writing to the cap
tain informing him that they were leav-
Ing under protest and without prejudice
to any action they might decide to take
later.
1t was only after a long parley with
Arthur Henderson. a Labor member Of
Parliament, and Charles Bswer1nan. an
other labor leader, that the deported men
agreed to leave the Umgeni. When a
deputation of Laboritcs went out on q
tug to welcome the South Africans the
captain OF the ship refused to permit
them to board the vessel.
We were pressed onto this vessel
against our consent" explained Mr.. Balm.
secretary OF the Federation OF Trades OF
South Africa I'VE do not intend to
leave 1t until we land again IN South
Africa"
Both parties then started singing the
Socialist hymn, The Red Flag"
Leader-' View Of the strike.
In general statement regarding their
deportation the men declared that the
general strike was ordered In a constitu.
tional manner after n ballot Of the work.
crs The Government. they sad, used
forces entirely composed OF back veldt
bocrs to terrorize the British workers.
I'm the Bermlston district" they con.
tinued. 1.-THE Beers behaved like Bashi-
basouks. riding down defenceless people
and arrestlng hundreds OF persons indis.
criminatcly."
The statement deals In detail with the
circumstances leading to the arrest OF the
strike leaders and their treatment by the
authorities.
1t Is because access 10 all courts was
denied u.s.. says the statement, that we
/ now appeal to the people OF Great Britain
and the workers OF the world to help US in
our attempt to prevent the present Gov.
eminent OF South Africa from usur1inc
the judicial powers vested In the courts
and from carrying out its evident inten.
ton OF making South Africa a Boer coll
ony instead of q British settlement which
under more enlightened and just gov
eminent. will yet become the home OF
many thousands OF British men and
women"
CAPE Town. Feb. 24.--The Government,
Indemnity bill, drawn to defend the Union
OF South Africa from lawsuits us a result
OF the proclamation OF martial law In tn.
recent strike, had Its second reading In
the House to-day. 1t was passed by VI
votes to IL.