Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-10-16
Downing Street Optimistic
and Refuses to Make
Concessions
PLANS FOOD SUPPLY
Men Said to Have Funds to Garry On
Bitter Fight - May Last Six
Weeks

London, Oct. 1G.-Every prepara
ticn possible has been made by tn
Government in anticipation of tn,
strike of more than a million cca
miners, called for Monday. For week!
the strike was regarded as probable
and new that the call has been IS
s,ued taken toward providing foot
fer the large centers Of population
and for conserving as far as possible
;.,.s}at coal is on hand.
Down:ss street takes an optimistic
view CT the situation, and although the
Cabinet is reported unanimously op
POSED to any concessions to the min
ers there are indications that the hcpt
o' avertng lengthy stoppage OF
work has not been abandoned.
The strike order was sent TO the
miners today following consideration
of Lloyd Georges letter, which the
miners leaders held altogether un.
satisfactory. Although Smiley AM
ether nstional leaders of the miners
used al possible efforts to avert the
strike. they are now prepared to fight
to the bitter end.
The miners are said to be well sup
Piled with funds and the strike may
last as long as six weeks. During thi:
period large sections of the public
which have been unable to purchas2
ADEQUATE reserves Of coal would suf.
fer the greatest hardShipS. There also
is the possibility that the coal strike
may only be the beginning of series
of industrial outbreaks. including
strikes by the railway men and the
transpart worker's. VINO. with the min
ers, form the triple alliance.
Ii would cause no surprise if Pre-
mier Lloyd George seized the oppor'
tunity to plunge the country into a
general election. relying on pubic
opinion to support him on platform
denying the right OF the Ministry II
dictate the policy CT the Government
and cppoSing any measure which
would GO beyond the present home
rue for I,e!and.
With Parliament reassemmlng or
the day cf the beginning of the strike
there is certain to be some exceeding
ly lively sessions.
Aside from the political aspects OF
The strike and the personal inconven'
ience It is bound to cause. there Is tht
more serious question of its effect or
International trade. Ait the moment
British industry is preparing TO enter
into competition with America fol
the trade of Europe and the ether
parts of the world The lack of finan.
cial support has been serious hardl'
can here. and the British have seer
with disn,ay the Americans obtaining
supren4acv of several markets an'
forming combinations with shippers
traders ard manufacturers of othel
countries, n4tably Germany.
If the coal strike shculd las. {
month, industry would be so haig,
crippled it would be set back another
wear. This argument was used wlthor'
avail with the miners.
The Government has issued order:
forbiddirg the further export of coal
Transatlantic liners scheduled to sal
his weekend will ge: away. but late
ones probably will be held up. Fo
home consumption only one hundre'
weight cf coal will be scld at time
Horse, racing vii! continue tomorrow
hut it s expected to stop Monday Al
train service VIII be greatly reduce
and the ras supply will be restricted
Thousands of army lorries are bein'
concentrated at various centers t
facilitate the transport of food sup
plies.
The triple alliance will meet Mon
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