The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-29

London as we'll as other great Brit
ish cities are nearly isolated from the
the rest of the country.
Occasionally lorries or one of the
handful of trains still running fto sup
ply hospitals) filter through. but they
seem almost like a mockery in the
terrible Industrial paralysis.
The government made no serious at
tempts to move the trains today.
With no hope OF settling the dispute
in sight, the bulk of the $4,000 600
men, women and children populatlng
Britain face hunger and cold.
The only way this catastrophe can
be avcrted lis for the government to
establishment at once a hastily i'm
provised transport scheme on a huge
scale.
But To carry out such a scheme the
military would have to be enlisted
and that possibility is the nightmare
haunting the British people. for there
is no telling what'labor may do to pre-
vent such step.
London and other cities already are
feeling the pangs of flunger-the
hunger OF wartime; no eggs, no sugar,
and only ,mprseis of meats and bread.
Tomorrow probably will SO the re-
| sumption of the long miserable bread
! lines so familiar In the dark days of
the war
London is almost dark tonight.
| lighting having been curtailed to the
utmost minimum necessary
..: A.. sssntiles Disappear.
The effect on the population. too,
was evident today. Yesterdays smiles
Of London's unsuspecting millions
have overnight turned to gloom. The
| full meaning of the crisis Ia realized
now. The people expect long drawn
out struggle.
Unofticially It is announced that
parliament viii he summoned this
week in the event no settlement is
| forthcoming.
Labor estimates are that the rail-
wayfnen have a $1,000. 900 strike funi
and can hold out three weeks. where
upon they viii face famine Other
workers either already thrown out OF
their Jobs or bound to be thrown out
because - the transportation tic UP
! have no such resources except their
| individual savings.
| But three weeks of the present
| paralysis would mean disaster to the
| extent and consequences of which
staGger the imagination.
The authorities concede that even if
! It lasts hut five days. it will strike a
mortal blow to British industry.
Hundreds of Americans stranded in
London and other cities are frantically
seeking transportation to the sea-
board
Fabulous sums are offered by them
for conveyances TO get there.
One man paid $500 today for the
| hire OF an automobile to get from
London to Plymouth 10 catch "A boat
there. Another offered the same, but
it was refused as the government has
cancelled the petrol supply.
! Thousands Of tons of American food
Will be tied up on the docks, with no
means to transport 1t into the in
terror.
The Adriatic is due tomorrow at
Southampton, which means that hun
dreds more Americans will be strand :
ed, unless the company organizes n
motor service which Is doubtful ow-
ing to the communicating of the pc
troll supply
The Noordam. sailing for America
today. was delayed for hours, but the
passengers had been warned. and Is
/ per cent We're on the dock before the
strike started.
SAYS BLOODSHED IMMINENT.
James Henry Thomas, secretary of
the railway service in Ireland is still
to the public with his warning that
trouble Is brewing which may lead to
bioodshed. The public has been dis
inclined to Believe In the magnitude OF
the tie up. and such words from
Thomas, who Is an ultra conservative
leader came as rude awakening
Contrary TO reports late last night,
the railway serice is Ireland Is stiil
going fairly normal, but this is only
/ at the express orders of Mr.. Thomas.
/ Dock workers and transport men
are expected to Join the striking mem
bers Of the triple alliance" and coast
shipment will inevitably be tied up
! promptly
/ Mail service Is paralyzed. only local
deliveries being made.
| Huge quantities of American mail
| lie at Liverpool and Southampton I'M
delivered and with no Immediate
chance OF delivery
Tho government today comman-
deered the entire airplane service Of
thu country and began. organizing
aertal posts.