The sun., 1919-09-27
GREAT RAILWAY
STRIKE TIES UP
GREAT BRITAIN
DemObiliZatiOn Halts and
Troops Are Rushed to
Big Terminals.
100000 MEN WALK OUT
Armed Conflict Feared in
Great Test of Strength
With Labor.
Special Ca6lo Despatch TO The Sun.


Copyright. 1879, all rights reserved
LONDON, Sept 26.-The great strike
tying up the entire railway system of
Great Britain. including London sub
ways, began at midnight. A series
OF conferences between representa-
tives Of the railway men and the Gov
ernment to-day ended in a complete
failure to agree and orders for the
strike were sent out. to take effect to-
night. Probably 100000 men are
affected. Reports received at a late
hour indicate that the strike is gen.
eral at nearly all points in the United
Kingdom.
Rapid movements OF soldiers from
the military centres to the railway ter
minals began late this afternoon. All
the skilled branches Of the army and
navy have been canvassed to obtain
men capable Of operating trains, and
this evening many of these picked men
had arrived in, London by motor trucks.
Arrangements have been made to
carry the mails by airplane, and a
large number OF motor trucks have
been provided for the conveyance of
supplies to the large cities which win
he most affected. More trucks will be
commandeered by the Government as
they are needed.
The official announcement by the Gov
OF
to arrive at an agreement and a strike
will take place tonight"
Demobilixation Suspended.
The strike is regarded as a direct blow
at government, all government. and will
be fought, according to present indica-
tions, to decisive end, with the use of
armed forces IL necessary. Demobiliza-
tion of the. army has been suspended
and all leaves Of absence have been
cancelled.
This is the first time In recent years
that direct conflict has occurred be-
tween labor and the Government and
both sides are anxious to discover which
is the stronger. The strike is ordered by
the National Union OF Railwaymen, but
the associated Society of Locomotive
Engineers and Firemen have decided to
strike In sympathy, and as all the mo-
tormen and conductors of the under
ground affiliated with the NJ u. r. will
go out also, suburban communication
Will be tied up completely. The men
demand that the war bonus of 33 shil-
lings (about $S.25) be continued as a
part OF the permanent wage.
Taking the most optimistic view, the
strike will mean at the least a period
of intense discomfort for the public, with
grave possibilities of trouble between
the armed forces of the Government and
the strikers.
Angry MutterinEs Ominous.
Every one who has watched the de-
velopment of the new crisis has been i'm
pressed by the stubbornness of the rail-
way men. Their threatening attitude at
first amused the public because so many
threats recently have failed to result in
action, but now that the strike actu-
ally has begun these angry mutterings
of the railway men have different
meaning. There Is no doubt that they
are angry. because some OF them de-
clared that they intended to strike re-
gardless of the result of to-day's neg6-
tiations with the Government and to
fight with every means In their power
to prevent the soldiers and sailors from
maintaining anything more than the
service necessary to feed the population.
1t is significant that at no time in
the negotiations was any common ground
found between labor and the Govern
ment. The latter Is reported to have
made a new offer. but 1t was rejected
fiatly by the men. This offer Is said
to have been to continue the present
wages this year and until the cost of
food. now reckoned at 115 per cent. of
pIe-war prices, has fallen to 11O per cent.
and remained there for three months.
Despite the fact that the workers have
received 100 per cent. increase In wages
since the war began they have great
difficulty in making their pay Of s12.50
a week feed and clothe their families.
For many months the lower grades OF
railwaymen have been compelled to work
seven days in the week and also over
time to reach a living basis of income.
They have been allowed to cultivate
plots of land along the right OF way,
and the produce from these often has
saved them from actual starvation.