The sun., 1919-09-30
VOLUNTEERS IN
ENGLAND FLOCK
TO NATIONS AID
Situation Vastly Improved,
With Material Increase in
Number of Trains.
CABINET STANDS FIRM
Large Numbers of Strikers Ask
to Go Back, but Leaders
Assert Confidence.
CABINET STANDS FIRM
Special Gable Despatch TO THF srS.

LONDON Sept. 2s.-The leaders Of
Great Britain's great railway strike
issued confident statements to-day. but
the facts reveal that they are losing
ground steadily under the avalanche
of criticism that is constantly descend
ing on them from all sides.
The Government drove numerous
wedges to-day into what the strikers
planned as complete industrial
blockade. and all indications are that
the Governments position will increase
in strength constantly from now on.
With volunteers swarming to the aid
Of Premier Lloyd George and his Cab
met and with vast numbers of the
strikers wavering in their allegiance
10 the union the situation cleared tre-
mendously.
A steady improvement is confidently
predicted by those who are fighting
what the public almost unanimously
denounces as unreasonable demands of
the men. Trains began moving to-
day and by nightfall the Government
was able to announce that the food
supply would be maintained.
BY pressing hundreds of motor
trucks into service the Government
began to-day to move food into Lon
don. Milk supplies were plentiful,
though an hour or more late, and
while the rationing system has been
imposed no real hardship is antici-
pated. Airplanes carried the mails and
aside from the inability of thousands
of workers to reach their place of en-
ployment there were few visible signs
that the nations greatest strike was
in progress.
Press supports Government.
Newspapers, both in London and the
provinces, are practically unanimous in
support of the Government, the only
adverse comment appearing in the
Manchester GtLdrdidn, which finds fault
with the tone of Premier Lloyd Georges
accusations against J. H. Thomas, sec
retRry Of the National Union of Rail
waymen.
Thomas, in a statement this after
noon. insisted that the unionists were
standing firmly and that the strike
would be won in a week He said the
striking trainmen were making their
plans accordingly.
His statements were not borne out by
! I've nrNg NhnN
from the provinces. which were to the
effect that thousands of railwaymen
were returning to work and that volun-
teers were offering themselves in such
numbers that service would soon be
restored almost to normal In London
and at all the other railway centres
| Government officials were busily claSsi-
flying these applications for employment
and assigning the men who applied TO
various sections.
The early efforts of the Government
officials to get food into London with
motor trucks caused Il great deal of
confusion, some streets being blocked
for miles. Gradually these traffic tangles
were Strengthened out, with the result
that food supplies. particularly milk.
began to pour into designated stations in
great food.
So far there has been no sign of vio-
lence. Pickets surround all stations, to
argue with volunteers and others enlist
ing for service. but no forcible attempts
are made to prevent the new men from
going 10 work. For the most part the
strikers are following the instructions
Of their leaders 10 remain quietly at
home
All the London theaters tonight report
ed average Attendances and there was no
suggestion that any of them would be
closed. Limited service was resumed on
two of the underground lines this eve
ninG and II Is announced that additions
to this service will be made Tomorrow
and the days following The bus lines
helped greatly in moving the evening
throngs homeward, although they We're
inadequate.
All along the coast the Government
IS using naval vessels to carry mails
and in this service thousands of air
planes hummed overhead all day long.
Mingling with the crowds in the
streets II IS easy 10 become convinced
that the people aside from their per-
sonsl inconvenience, are opposed to the
strikers. Thousands walk cheerfully
and "cuss" the strikers as they walk.
not so much because they made walking
necessary hut because they seized what
the majority Of the people think was
an unfair advantage of the Government
All the restaurants are holding back
on supplies especially butter, eggs and
other perishsble foods By the end of
the week II Is feared that the food short
age will be more apparent, despite assur-
ances OF Government officials that ample
facilities will be provided. Hundreds OF
carloads OF food are rotting in the rail-
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