The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-30
STRIKERS TRY TO
WRECK TRAINS
Red and Green Signals Are
Altered, but No Loss Of
Life Resulted.
USE OF TROOPS RESENTED

London, Sept. S0.-U. N. S.)-Ar
attempt to wreck trains in the rail
way strike was reported in an officia
statement given out at the premier
officials residence in Downing street
today.
Z The text of the official communi.
que follows:
Railway service is improving.
Yesterdays schedules prepared by
the railway companies is now ex-
| ceeded.
"Some minor acts of sabotage were
reported.
| There was one case during the
night where red and green signals
were altered. Fortunately there was
no loss of life.
"The distribution Of food continues
sufficiently. largely due to the spirit
of the volunteer workers"
The following official statement was
given out by the ministry of trans
port;
THE railway services are much i'm
| proved. Numbers of men are report.
ing for duty all over the country. The
bus and tram workers may strike
! Worst Crisis in Twenty Four Hours
J. II. Thomas, executive secretary
of the national union of railway men,
in speech at cIapham, threatened d
that 1,050,000 transport workers and
coal miners may strike in sympathy
with the railway workers, paraIyz-
ing England. According to Thomas,
the next twenty four hours may see
fha nj. ..I - 1.
tory of the nation.
Printers Bring Pressure.
The printers are no Ythreatenlng
strike unless the newspapers temper
their attitude Of sharp hostility to-
wards the railway men, 1t waslearned
this afternoon.
Official announcement was made
this afternoon that the Amalgamated
Society of Engineers locomotive
firemen) had decided not to strike.
but they refuse to take over the work
Of the striking trainmen.
Army of Triple Alliance"
The prediction that the transport
workers would strike today in SYM
pathy with the railway strikers was
made by the Central News. The trans
port workers organization forms one
of the arms of labors powerful
triple alliance" and walltout by
this union would paralyze work in the
ports.
Greatest anxiety is felt by the peo-
pie of London over the question
whether buses and tram cars will
stop working today, the continuance
of this service not being regarded
very hopefully. Decision on the ques-
ton depends Immediately upon the
union of licensed vehicle workers,
which is of the thirty-six organiza-
tions affiliated with the transport
workers federation, but which Is able
to act Independently. The executive
committee of the union OF licensed
vehicle workers sat continuously for
fourteen hours yesterday, not ad-
journing until after midnight this
morning. Announcement was made
that the union had postponed action
until today at the request of the
transport workers federation to en-
able the latter to confer with officials
of the national union Of railway men.
Use of Troops Resented.
Employment of troops to protect
railroads property is being resented
by strikers at some places, apparently
through the fear the soldiers may be
used as strikebreakers. Speakers at
a meeting tonight at Nuneator, War
Wickshire, warned the government
serious consequences would follow
the employment of troops. Dock la
borers at Newport, Monmouthshire
have threatened to strike II soldiers
interfere with railway men.
The Herald, organ for labor, fea-
lures what it describes as a "omt-
nous movement of troops and COM
plains editorially that Everything is
done TO give an air of violence to
what on the mems part is a peace
ful, lawful movement for better
wages"
Distribution of troops to various
centers with machine guns and many
rounds of rifle ammunition, is re-
ported, but there is nothing to indi-
cate more than precautionary meas
ures to protect depots and other
property.
The federation Of discharged sol.
ders and sailors has issued a cir
cular stating that the organization
will maintain neutrality" in the
strike. Officials Of the federation ex-
pressed the opinion that reserves
should not be called to the colors TO
participate in an industrial dispute.
Robert Smillie. head of the coal
miners union, the second branch OF the
triple alliance" estimated in a state
ment made in Glasgow that the national
rail tie-up vii Throw 30 per cent. OF the
coal miners into idlenesS within three
days. even If they do not Join the strike.
Already about 100 600 miners are idle.
Traffic in the railwya. lines in Eng
land. Scotland and Wales is stagnated,
hut officials of the government claim
Continued on Page TweIve.)
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