The Washington times., 1919-09-27
ENGLAND TIED
UPBYBIGGEST
RAIL STRIKE
INITSHISTORY

LONDON, Sept. 27s-The general
railway strike, the greatest strike in
British history, which went into ef-
feet at midnight, involving more
than 100000 workers, may spread to
the coal miners and transport work
ers absolutely parslyzing industry
as well a. traffic throughout the
United Kingdom.
Bob Williams, an official Of the
Transport Workers Union, declared
today that the "Iiple alliance
the miners, transport workers, and
railway mems union-"would be an
tomatically involved" This dec
laration came with the stunning
force Of q bombsheH to England.
DemObilizatiOn Suspended.
The government has suspended de-
mobilization Of the army and soldiers
leaves OF absence, but it was stated
this morning that there els no present
Intention Of operating trains with
soldiers
King George, who has been spend
ing q vacation at Balmoral castle, in
Scotland, has left hurriedly for Lon
don By motor car.
with more than half q million men
affected By the waIkoUt, and the
country's whole transportation system
paralyzed, the governments hrst pre-
cautions today were to prepare
against starvation.
The food ministry Eprang a big sur
prise when Il revealed the existence
e secret food reserves in London,
which, Il was estimated, are sufficient
70 supply the city for six weeks.
Stocks in other parts OF the kingdom,
il was declared, will enable Britain
to subsist for at least eight weeks.
GOverumearsa Position Outlined.
The position Of the government to-
wards the railway strike was out
lined by Premier Lloyd George in a
letter canceling q speech he was to
deliver at Carmathen. After charac-
tsrizinE IL as a strike against the
community, the Premier said:
Never in my long and varied eL-
Dsrienee do I recall q strike entered
into 90 lightly, with less 3ustifca-
tfon and with such disregard for the
public interests"
The Premier declared that the gov
eminent begged the men 70 postpone
action n common justice and TO give
time to business men and housewives
60 prepare against a calamity, but
they REFUSED
sarhis gives the Impression that Il
is the deliberate and matured inten-
tf0n on the part Of some individuals
10 seek a quarrel ct any cost" con
tinued the Premier. 'It has con
vinced me that q is not q strike for
wages or better conditions but an
anarchist conspiracy"
Premier Lloyd George continued:
eThe government has reason % be-
Hgvs that the strike has been en-
Eineered for some time By q small
active body which wrought ttrelessly
and fnsidiOulIy 20 exploit the labor
organization In this country to its
subserVient ends. am convinced that
the majority Of trade uniOnists are
opposed 70 this anarhcist conspiracy"
MIX OffeFa Problem.
Motor Iorries stationed in an parts
Of the country today began operating
between the seaports and food de-
ports in the inland cities. The diff
ficulty OF milk distribution offered
The worst problem, bat an attempt
viii be made to operate a few trains
L4L A4AI pAER R4aag lL14 II NA8 UGllGHGQ
The nations babies viii be spared any
suffering.
The government had established a
virtual food dictatorship, endowed
with almost limitIess powers. The
navy viii be used 70 help feed the
countryside 6rst time in history the
sea forces have been called to serve
in such a capacity.
The strike decision followed desper-
ate attempts at adjustment in aIl-day
conferences between Premier Lloyd
George, Minister OF Transport Geddes
and the railway men The public had
interpreted the continued negotiations
as an indication that an agreement
could be reached and was poorly pre-
pared today 70 meet the problems OF
transport