The sun., 1919-09-28
No Violence Is Reported as
Steam and Electric.
Lines Halt.
MINERS TO QUIT NEXT
Transport Men Plan to Fol-
low, Cutting England
Off FROM World.
LONDON WALKS TO WORK
Country Takes the Situation
Calmly-GOvernment APP
peals to Public Opinion.
LONDON WALKS TO WORK
Special Gable Despatch to THE Sun.
Copyrioht, 1918, all rights reserued.


Copyright, 1919. all rights reserUed.
LONDON. Sept. 27.-England's great
est Industrial upheaval has progressed
through its initial stages without vio-
lence. Everywhere in England. Scot
land and Wales every steam and cleo
trio line is at n standstill, and undoubt-
eddy it is the most complete walkout
of trade unionists in Great Britalns
history.
The immediate effects of the strike
have not been very serious SO far.
Thousands of Londoners to-day had to
walk to their work, and many of them
cheerfully covered ten to fifteen miles.
In the early hours the bus lines con-
tinued to operate, but as the under
ground systems were not working the
surface vehicles We're able to carry
only small percentage OF the traffic.
Only two trains left London this
morning over the steam lines, one Of
them carrying passengers from VIC
toria Station to the east coast The au-
thorities have distributed soldiers
throughout the city and also have
moved large numbers of troops to the
various railway centres of the coun-
try, but they have decided not to use
the soldiers in the operation of trains
at present, believing that such action
would be certain to provoke trouble
Strike Expected to Increase.
1t is not possible to predict at this
| time when or under what circumstances
| the strike will end. II seems more likely
that for time at least it will Increase
! The other two members of the Triple
Alliance the Miners Union and the
Transport Workers Union, are expected
to join the railway men soon, as these
three great unions work together
Owing to lack of cars two Weigh mines
! already have closed down. Plans are
under way also TO tie up English Chan
mel steamships and the railway boats
in the Irish Sea- cutting England on
| from the outer world.
c. 7. Cramp, president Of the National
Union of Railwaymen. visited Sir Eric
Geddes, Minister of Transportation, In
/ Downing street this morning. hut little
is expected from such incidents, as the
| views Of the Government and the labor
officials are too widely divergent. The
| continuation of the strike will mean q
tremendous blow to British industry at
| the moment when it Is recovering after
| five years of war and will make the
progress of reconstruction very slow, if
! 1t does not check it altogether for "A
| time. 1t may mean also an irTCtrlevabls
| loss OF prestige in the markets of the
| world.
Mines Must Halt Soon.
Even II the Miners Union does not
\ strike work in the mines must cease
, soon, for the coal cannot be moved from
the mines without railroad cars. Work
at the docks already has been checked,
while the steel industry, caught in the
| maelstrom, will be unable TO resume
wcrk Monday.
Thus with the whole intricate system
of the nations activities blocked the
| railway men expect to win their fight
by what the newspapers call 'starv9-
ton strike" The Government pins its
faith upon the force of public opinion,
outraged by suffering and hardship.
throwing its weight into the struggle
against the strikers.
The official view is that the strike is
directed against the entire community
and therefore the whole community
must help the Government. The only
indication of such help, however, is
an appeal Issued by the leaders OF one
union TO Its branches 10 organize all
privately owned cars and 10 call up
all the members capable of driving
! motors or steam engines,
| NOlnntaara Tnhar prptantipr nF
will be placed on trains or assigned to
motor trucks, with which the Govern
ment hopes to carry on partial SER
vices,
Public Is Calm,
1t is surprising how calmly the pub
lie accepts the new conditions men.
women and children march along the
streets apparently unconcerned, facing
the period OF stress most good natur-
eddy. The imposition OF a rationing
system even more strict than that which
prevailed in the worst months of the
war has been met with equal uncon-
Germ. The people know that London
has a supply OF food for six weeks and
they are hopeful that the strike will be
settled before the supply Is exhausted.
The optimistic believe that a settlement
will be reached early next week, when
; both sides, II is hoped, will see the
futillty OF lighting to n finish.
Hyde Park was closed to the public
this evening. and W II be used as a clear
ing station for volunteer motor drivers
and also as central distributing point
for food, All motor trucks will be col
lected in the great spaces of the park
and loaded with milk and perishable
foods, which will be distributed through
out the city. The same plan will be
used In other cities.
The newspap ers show a unanimous be-
lief that the whole community must Worl,