Evening star., 1918-07-25
100000 MUNITIONS
WORKERS ARE IDLE
Go on Strike Despite Con-
demnation of Their Fellow
British ToiIers.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BIRMINGHAM, England. July 25.-It
was estimated that 100, 600 munition
workers were out on strike In the BirA
mingham district this morning. Workers
work pending the outcome of negotiations
which are proceeding with the ministry
Of munitions at London and the result
OF the conference Of engineering and al
lied trades which opened at Leeds today.
4 strike of munitions workers began
at Birmingham at s o'clock last evening.
Asks Committee Of Inquiry.
LONDON. July 25.-The Trade Union
advisory committee met this morning
and. requested the government to set
up a committee of inquiry composed
of representatives Of the government.
of the employees and of the trade
unions concerned, to inquire into the
cause of the munitions dispute. The
government agreed.
LONDON, July 25.-The committee
adopted a resolution advising the
government to institute an inquiry
into the labor trouble in the Mid
lands, and urgently requesting the
men in the meantime to resume work.
that II the munition workers strike
continues the strikers Of military age
will be drafted promptly into the
army, according to an unofficial state
ment printed in some of the morning
newspapers. George H Roberts. min
lister of labor. gave a hint to this ef-
feet in a speech in London Wednesday
when he declared that no young men
had a right to exemption from mill
tary service, except on the ground
they were doing work more valuable
than fighting.
refusal to withdraw the embargo
which ostensibly is the cause of the
strike. although 1t seems that in In
stances the embargo is used as a pre-
text to cover other grievances.
Dissension in Onion Ranks
Dissension is, being created in the
trades union ranks by the action Of
the strikers, and in many parts OF
the country the conduct Of the
Coventry and Birmingham men Is de-
nounced hotly.
Of the engineers refuse to be stumpel
into an irresponsible strike. the
Clyde there seems no sign of SYM
pathy with the strikers. and work
there is continuing smoothly. The
same may Do SeSAu VI Auohy Ne.ASA SSAA
On the other hand 5000 notices to
cease work Tuesday were handed In
at Manchester. where the .Amalgamat-
ed Engineers have membership OF
$4,000. It is declared a majority will
ioin the strike unless the embargo ie
removed. -. -
neers at Newcastle have decided to
follow the strike lead without await
jnr action by the national conference.
The men at Lincoln did not go on
strike wednesday as threatened, but
viii await the result of the confer
The woolwtch arsenal workers held
a meeting today, after which they
felegraphed the Coventry munitions
workers as follows:
..Strike now and you will earn the
blessings of the kaiser and his army
Of murderers. But you will earn the
lasting condemnation of all those who
are dghting and working in the al
lied nations to gain real freedom for
civilization.
sist in striking that this government
owes 1t to your brave brothers, who
are lighting the Germans with their
lives blood while you are fighting
with words and full bellies, that you
be immediately put in the front Of the
should be shot.
woolwich will remain at work and
earn the right to shake the hand OF
the soldier when he returnzs
r. & s.-f- . :