New-York tribune., 1919-09-28
Miners and Transport
Workers May Join to
Cut OFF Britain From
World; No Violence
Mail and Food
Service Crippled
Trouble May Lead to
Bloodshed, L h o M a $
Says; M Millions Idle
Hs'o York Tribune


LONDON, Sept. 27.- England awoke
this morning to face the gravcst ma
t'ona' strike in the country's history
overnight nearly million railway
workers quit their Jobs, forcing other
millions to go idle through inability to
reach their places of business. The
paralysis of transportation lines is
nearly complete.
Although the halt of traffic came so
suddenly as to seem almost unreal, its
effects are already spreading rapidly
into other of the nations greatest in
dustries. The factories Of Northern
England will be forced 70 close within
a few days. The mines nave been hard
hit. The food situation is precarious
The country is confronted with the
most serious situation since the black.
est days Of the war.
Lordon's millions vpiked TO work
this morning-at least the vast aior,
ity OF those who, living within reason
able distance, couldn't fight their way
aboard the overcrowded buses and
motor lorries that the government
pressed into service is some areas.
The government regards the situa-
tion as a strike against the community
and not as an effort to better labor's
position. Premier Lloyd George an
nounced that the strike would be re-
sisted and the, agitators behind it
fought with all the resources at the
nations command.
Military Forces Used
A special organization is being
formed rapidly to handle the situation
At present no military forces are be-
ing used to run the trains. but thou
sands Of soldiers have been called
into the city and all day have given
armed protection to those groups of
workers who volunteered to man the
locomotives and ars. Since the
strikers left their posts bodies of
troops have been stationed at cross
ings and on main thoroughfares
throughout the city, prepared to
check trouble.
The strikers walked out almost unan-
imously in England, Scotland and
Wales. In Ireland the men have been
advised to stay on the job for the
present.
Feeble attempts were made this
morning in London to move traffic. One
train, the Continental Express, from
the Victoria Station, bound for a Chan.
mel port, pulled out of the city early
in the day, manned by non-union work.
ers, but it was forced to run slowly
and made no. attempt to keep to sched
ule.
All the subways are at standstill
and the stations closed. with soldiers
guarding them.
Tranoc uuJ ,puc~.
The railway men said that the trans
and buses, which throughout the day
have struggled hopelessly through the
overloaded vehicles. would stop running
at midnight tonight and leave the city
helpless.
LONDON, Sept % (By The Asso-
ciated Press) Two great railway or.
CARNATIONS, the National Union OF
Railwaymen and the Associated Society
of Engineers and Firemen, have
stopped work. Allies of the former
the Miners Union and the Transport
Workers, including the dock employees
H. Bundy, secretary of the Vehicle
Workers Union, which includes bus
tramway and taxicab employees, said
this afternoon the men would vote to-
night to strike in support of the rail
waymen.
Tonight a great mass meeting OF
railway men was held in Albert Hall
at which James Henry Thomas, secre-
tary of the National Union Of Railway
men-after the audience for an hour
had sung "The Red Flag"-delivered a
heated speech of censure against the
government, and declared that trouble
was brewing which might lead to blood.
shed.
A lengthy verbatim report issued Of
ficially tonight concerning Fridays
conference between the government
and railway men shows that Secre.
tary Thomas asked for minimum OF
k60 shillings a week for all workers
Mr.. Lloyd George admitted that the
railway men before the war had beer
"disgracefully underpaid."
Can Hold Ont Three Weeks
The National Union Of Railwaymen
and the Amalgamated Society of Loco
motive Engineers and Firemen claim
with their reserve Of 81 100000 (s7,-
500 ,OOO) to be able to pay each striking
member one pound a week for three
weeks, before which time they are
confident they will win.
The English Channel steamers ane
railway boats plying the Irish Sea
probably will be tied up, cutting of
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