The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-06
FEAR BRITISH ROADS
 MAY BE PARALYZED

London, April 5-Ine stoppage of all coal mining in Great Britain is an ae complished fact and the question the public is considering anxiously tonight is whether the paralysis will extend to the railways and other means of transpor- and even spread among the workers gen. erally. Both houses of Parliament dis cussed the situation today without talk ing any steps to relieve it. The na- ticnal transport workers federation del- egates conferred without reaching a de- c!sion as to whether to call a strike in that line in support of the miners. The three branches of the Triple Alliance, the raiiwaymen. the transport workers and the miners will meet separately to- morrow, which promises to be decisive day.
 Tine most serious feature of the posi- tion continues to be the threat of ruin of the mines by flooding, The miners took strong measures in several places today against the owners, who are pro tecting their property. There was sue cessful attack oh the guardian of an inn port mine near Edinburgh. Scotland. X thousand miners marched to the pit head of the ocean colleries in Rhondda, Wales and successfully demanded the wlthdra wal of all officials working the pumps. The referees in several towns have refused the applications of striking minors for unemployment pay
 Four hundred delegates representing 8 unions and q half million workers at tended the meeting of the transports del egates. which was preceded by meeting of their executives.
 FACTORIES CLOSING
 Reports of faetoraes closing continue to be published but 1t is impossible to esti- mate the extent to which industry is suf- fering through the strike crisis because temporary closing and short time have been extremely common recently. The att titude Of the public and workers seeming ly is that this is as good as any tirhe fo- threshing out the vital problem of re- duced Wages. which the employees con- tend is necessary if the country is to continue doing business and which the W oriers insist should be accomplished by gradual stages If it cannot be avoided.
 The government Is concentrating troops in Kepsington Gardens in the fashion able West End district. supposedly in connection with plans to maintain order in the event of disturbances This To- cation was a huge supply depot during the railway strike of 1919 and probably will serve as the nucleus for such work if the transport men support the miners. Soldiers were going into camp there to- day equipped with arms. steel helmets and full wartime paraphernalia. The big park presented a scene of animation. Wltn tents BOlHS upt lOTFicS food and other supplies and squads nov ing at sharp commands from their off, ficers. While this precautionary meas ure is being taken there is no ground to believe disorders are likely
 NUMBER INJURED
 In rioting at the Hart Hill collieries near Edinburgh. where five miners armed withs pit props and stones at tackled and overwhelmed the police and volunteer pump workers. five po- licemen and several civilians were in jured, while the plant was wrecked. In West Benhar, Scotland. similar scenes occurred. The police were called in. but were overpowered. Tn several other places, striking miners forced volunteers to cease work, in the Kng Lassie district of Fifeshire the telephone wires were cut.
 In the South Wales coal fields. off cials and volunteers are finding the pumping task very heavy. and fears are entertained that they will be un- able to cope with it.
 Lord Derby, himself an important mine owner, supported one of the main
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