The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-14
LABOR TROUBLES
 TO BE DEALT WITH
 BY MUNITIONS ACT
Miners and Coal Operators Fail to Agree-Germans Claim Further Progress Against the Fren rr
London, July 13.-G0t4, i.)--To- days session of Par C ~r was marked by a series of O tant an- aunHH Hrmentsi
xchequer, ced that

N afee Inaid sIefeuaa ced that subs zsntiops 70 tae ns oan had e#si ae unaTeoes igure of ae.triy sa8aa.e0d. Hn not Including
 nrl sun,s received ss- ,o-toffice..
 1Hs preafaaf a6 te zaa5d of Trade, Walter He u#H araase the house to further cheers tha st atement that in view of the failure ol South Wales coal owners and miners to agree on wage scale the government had de- cided to apply to the mining industry the munitions of war act. This mak es it an offense to take part in a strike or lockout unless differences have been reported to the Board of Trade and the board has referred the matter for set clement by one of the methods pre- scrbed by the act.
 serious view is taken of the re- fusal of the miners to accept a com promise, for even in the face of the governments decision they threaten defiance.
 Most of the navy coal comes from South Wales and even before the trou- ble arose the supply was affected by the enlistment in the army of 5o,oOo miners, which eventually made it nec- essary for the government to stop re- cruiting in the mining district of Wales.
 When Trouble Started The crisis first threatened three , months ago when tile miners gave no- tice to terminate existing agreements on July 1 and in lieu of these, they proposed national programme giv- ing an all-round wage increase. The owners objected to considera tion of the new terms during the war and asked the miners to accept the existing agree ments plus a war bonus After con ferenoes union officials agreed to rec ommend compromise. which was ar ranged through the Board of Trade. The miners, however, voted yesterday against this and the government had to take action.
 The miners assert that their demands would mean no more than pence 12 cents) a ton and argue that as the owners are receiving much more for their coal than previously they could well pay 1t. As a matter of fact, MT. Runciman today also introduced bill in the house to regulate the price of coal
 In the House of Lords. the Marquis of Lansdowne. member of the cabinet without portfolio, stated that 22 or 23 British divisions were in France and Belgium and expressed the opinion that although recruits were flowing in, the country would not much longer toler- ate the anomalies and fnjustices or the voluntary system which was talk Ing unusual proportions of married men A national register, he said, would be useful. should 1t be found necessary to introduce compulsory mil itary service. He intimated also that the munitions question was being handled satisfactorily
 Germans Claim Progress
 Beyond the German claim that they have made further progress in their attacks near Souchez, the French air raid on the German lines of commun- ications serving their front in the Woevre and repulses by both sides of the usual daily attacks. little has hap pened on the western front.
 In the east operations are entering a new phase. the Russians having been successful in their counter offensive against the Austrians in the region of Krasnik. They have taken new posi- tions In the hills north of that town and apparently are waiting for the Austro- Germans to move. It Is not ex- pected that this will be long delayed for General Won Mackensen has had time to receive endorsements and supplies
 The Balkan situation again Is in the limelight as result of disclosures that the Austro Germans have offered Roumania alternative concessions, either to continue neutral or join with