The Washington times., 1920-10-17
MILLION men
DESERT MINES
Paralyzation Of All English In
dustry viii Follow Quickly,
Is Nations Fear.
TROOPS ARE CALLED OUT
Triple AlIiaoce, Embodying Rail
and Transport Workers,
May Join Walkout.

LONDON, Oct. 17.-The long
threatened test Of strength between
the British government and organ
lied labor is on today.
With coal mines throughout the
British Isles practically denuded OF
workers as a result of the order to
strike, both sides prepared for a
desperate fight on the issue Of
whether trade unionism could enforce
its demands or whether organized
labor must submit to the dictates
of government.
MILLS SHUT DOWN.
The strike, involving more than a
million mine workers, with prospects
of bringing out railway and transport
workers. has today already begun to
paralyZe industry. Iron and steel
mills in many parts of the kingdom
have already closed. Practically all
mills in Yorkshire have shut down.
Ii is expected more than 5000 metal
workers would refuse to return to
work in the Tee-Side district tomor-
row.
Hundreds of volunteers presented
themselves at the transport nninfstry
today IN response 10, Lloyd Georges
appeaIs 10 the public to cooperate in
I defeating the strike The premier.
speaking orr Ssehah o. the govern
ment, accepted the. miners challenge
and placed responsibility for Develop
ments souarely on the shoulders of
the men who voted for the strike.
While many miners admitted there
was little prospect that they would
win the strike. in view Of it's unpopu-
larity, they remained determined. dc
claring they could hold out for six
weeks at least No disturbances were
reported.
COAL LID ON TIGHT.
The coal export embargo was fully
effective today. No bunker coal was
furnished for foreign vessels, and
transatlantic ships received only suf-
ficient fuel for a one-way trip.
Economy of coal was practfced by in
dividuals and corporations in accord
ance with the Governments plan.
Shipment of non-essential freight
was prohibited. Passenger traffic was
not expected to be seriously afreced
for a few days.
Lloyd Georges resume of negotia
tions between the government and the
miners were supplemented by a speech
at Dunbe by Winston Churchill, who
severely scored the miners for insist
ing on a fiat wage increase of so
cents a day, instead of accepting a
scale based on increased production
as proposed by the government
The executive committee of the
railway workers issued q statement
warning of the seriousness OF the sit
uation that would result from defeat
of the miners. The statement de-
clared a special conference OF dele
gates would be called Wednesday TO
decide whether the railway men
should join the miners in a sympathy
strike.
OTHER WORKERS MAY STRIKE
Transport workers win hold a SINH
lar meeting tomorrow. With the
miners these two bodies OF workers
form the triple alliance All are
bound by treaty" to aid each other
in matters like the present strike.
The triple alliance constitutes prob
ably the most powerful labor organi-
zation in the world, and IL is quite
likely II the triple alliance were to
act in concert 1t could quickly halt
practically all industrial activity in
the British Isles. 1t is the belief of
government leaders, however, that
the triple alliance will decide to sup
port the miners only as a last resort,
as the leaders are cognizant OF the
seriousness of the miners strike
In a speech at New Castle, Herbert
Asauith. former premier and leader
OF a powerful opposition party In the
British Parliament declared 1T is no
exaggeration to say that the haltfns
OF coal production will inflict the
sentence OF starvation upon millions
OF human beings" He said the whole
nation denied to the miners the right
to plunge the country Into the un.
measured dangers of an Industrial
war"
The coal strike threatens to rock
the very foundation OF the British
empire. Britain is face to face with
her gravest Industrial crisis.
TROOPS MAY NINE COAL.
II the strike becomes general, un-
der the direction OF British labor's
triple Alliance" not wheel will
be turning In the United Kingdom
and the people will face winter OF
fuel famine Railways will not be
able to run except with imported
coal from the United states. Marine
traffic will be paralyzed. Industry OF
every kind will be stagnated.
The government may attempt To-
work mines and run trains with
troops. Military steps already have
been taken to cope with violence. The
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