Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-16
BRITAIN PREPARES
GR|MLY FOR CLASH
WITH MINE UNION
Rail and Transport Workers
May Decide to Aid
Strikers.
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, October 16.-Preparations
for the great industrial struggle pre-
cipitated by the decision of the Brit
ish coal miners to cease work went
grimly forward today.
The machinery established by the
government to cope with the crisis
was working smoothly at full speed.
The miners. for their part, were
equally active. Some Of them, notably
in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire,
already had ceased work at the end
Of their shifts.
Meanwhile the public was waiting
anxiously, even fearfully, for the real
beginning of the battle whose out
come none could foresee. since the ac-
the country.
Grave Issue at Stake.
The issue of gravest Importance
which was hanlfng in the balance was
whether the railroad men and the
transport workers would give their
active support to the miners. This
morning the executive committee of
the National Union of Railway Men de-
cided to call special conference of
delegates for Wednesday next when
the fateful decision will be taken as
to whether the railway men shall sup
port the miners through a SYM
road employees will remain at work.
The National Federation of Trans
port Workers declined to Indicate it's
position. The executive committee of
the federation will meet Monday,
when the question may be con-
sidered.
The executive committee of the AS
sociated Society of Locomotive En-
gineers and Firemen is meeting today
| at Leeds to decide the attitude of
| that union.
Military Leave stopped.
| Military leave has been stopped in
| the Portsmouth district, owing to the
strike. Considerable forces are main
tanned there, and the officers and men
! on leave have been recalled.
| Some of the iron and steel works
| in the north of Yorkshire already
have succumbed to the coal strik e
threat. with its implication of a pro-
spective coal shortage. With few ex-
ceptions, all the works on the Teeside
| were closed today, and about 10000
| men have been thrown out of employ
| ment. 1t is stated that all the works
| in this district will be idle after to-
day. The local shipyards along the
Tees will be kept going. however, for
a few days.
| From Sheffield comes the report
that while some of the big factories
have supplies of coal sufficient for
three weeks. the staple trades will
be Immediately affected. as the aver
age supply of coal is sufficient for
one week only. At the end of that
time it is estimated there will be 8O,-
900 steel. iron, engineering, cutlery
and electroplate workers idle.
Ships to Get Coal Abroad.
| On the marine side, ocean liners
have been instructed to obtain bunk
er coal abroad as much as possible.
Reports from. Liverpool state that
| while this may ease the situation the
holdup of shipping will none the less
be serious. and much disquietude is
| felt there.
| Representatives of the United
States Shipping Board stated this
morning they had received assurances
from the British ministry of shipping
which gave the board reason for con-
! fidence that none of the American
steamers would be tied up. The board
[ sent message to headquarters in
| America suggesting that all steam
| ships sailing this way carry coal for
the round trip.
| Sailings Unchanged.
Inquiries at the Offices Of the main
transatlantic passenger lines today
ELECTED the statement that there was
no indication at present Of restric-
| tion or alteration of the advertised
sailings. The lines say the govern
ment has not yet notified them not to
put in bunker coal on this side.
1t is declared to be possible that
| transatlantic passengers may be ex-
cluded from the steamers on their re-
turn trips to the United Kingdom
in order to conserve space for carry
ing foodstuffs The larger liners
however. are not well adapted to the
carrying out of this idea. as they are
intended only for passenger service
and have little cargo space.
The Cunard line stated that the
Mauritania would 8ail to6aH and