Evening star., 1921-04-10
BY HENRY W. BUM.

NHE following is brief
summary of the most i'm
portant news of the world
for the seven days ended
April 9:
Great Britain-The miners strike
is still on, and the outlook is
more ominous than it was a week
ago. The railwaymen and the
transport workers (the other
groups in the triple alliance) have
at last ended the general sus-
pense, and have decided to go out
next Tuesday midnight unless in
the meantime the mine owners
the miners chiefs, under condi-
tions dictated by the latter. The
action of the miners chiefs in or
dering out of the mines the engi-
neers and pumpmen, whose func-
tion is to safeguard the mines
against flooding, has been gener-
ally criticised. even by journals
very friendly to labor. as a stupen-
dous tactical blunder; as having
alienated great deal OF senti-
ment among the general public
which was favorable to the miners,
and as certain to prove. in the
sequel. very DANA ging to the
political prospects of labor
The engineers and pumpmen did
not wish to leave their posts;
many have remained: others who
left in compliance with orders
have returned. in many cases vol
unteers have substituted. Thus.
most. though by no means all, of
the mines have so far been saved
from flooding. But the danger that
way is increasing: there is more
and more intimidation. more and
more regulars and volunteers are
being frightened away from the
pumps Up to the last day or
two there was little violence: Just
few broken heads in small
clashes between miners and police.
But the violence is growing: the
temper Of the strikers is getting
uglier.
bring mine owners and miners
chiefs together in conference. But
the mine owners require as a con-
dition precedent to negotiation
that the order ealing out the
engineers and pumpmen be re-
versed. and the miners chiefs say
they will not reverse that order
unless the owners accept in ad-
vance of negotiation the two princi-
Piles of national wage board and
a national pool. on which princi-
Piles the whole controversy may
be said to chiefly hang. Further
more. the miners chiefs seem to
insist that. pending the result Of
the negotiations. the government
Ian
tinue the subsidies Mr.. Lloyd
George has said that the govern
ment will not entertain such an
idea. 1t looks like an impasse-
all hands resolved not to bulge:
but all hands. miners. owners and
the premier himself. have on more
than one previous occasion dis
lady who. Saying she would
ne'er consent. consented
Since the above was written
1t appears that the conditions in
sisted upon by the miners for a
conference have been changed in
detail. But apparently the essen
tial candition remains the same
namely. that the safety men shall
not be ordered back to the mines
until decision has been reached
on the miners major demands
II think the more correct mode
Of statement would be- a decision
favorable to the miners has been
reached. The miners make no
bones of admitting that they re-
serve this weapon to enforce
their terms.
The latest report tells Of ex-
traerdinary military and other
measures already on foot The
king has ordered out the re-
serves of the army. the navy and
the air force. Special constables
are to be sworn in to the num-
ber of 250.000. In addition. a
special force Of volunteers. to be
called the defense force" is to
be enlisted for ninety days to
supplement the police: apparently
to be armed as soldiers and to
consist chiefly Of former soldiers.
Ample protection must be af-
forded to the volunteers who are
to carry on the essential services.
Mr.. Lloyd George has called the