New-York tribune., 1921-04-09
Hing Calls Armed Forces
and Reserves Ordered
Out: Appeal Is Issued
for Volunteers i'm Mines
Fight to a Finish,
Says Lloyd George
Million Rail and Trans
| port Workers Will Quit
in Sympathy alk.Out
: FROM The Tribune's European, Bureau
Copyright, 1921. New York Tribune In,-

ftS [NTCDfHN bureau
Copyright. 1921. New York Tribune lnc
LONDON, April 8.-Negotiatious
for settlement of the coal miners
strike collapsed to-day. A million
railway men and transport workers
were Immediately ordered to quit
work at midnight next Tuesday in
sympathy with the miners.
Tonight the kingdom faces tbs
most serious crisis since the dark
days of 1914, with labor's most DOW
erful elements arrayed in supreme
stand against threatened reductions
of wages. The fabric of the state
itself may be at stake in the con-
test.
Armed Forces Modified
Armed forces of the nation are
beng modified, reserve troops are
beng ordered out, a call for yolln-
teers has been issued, and the gov
ernment is planning to fight what it
calls direct action with every
agency in its power.
Officials Of the Triple Alliance an
nounced their decision at 4 O'clock
this afternoon, to take effect with
out further warning unless negotia-
tlons between the miners and the
government are reopened.
The miners stand firm in their de-
mand for continuation of govern
ment control of the pits, government
subsidies and national control of
profits and against the lowered scale
of wages which the owners hope to
put into effect. The railwaymen
and transport workers, believing
that the reduction of the miners
wages is only a step toward cuts in
every industry, have aligned them
selves with the miners in an effort
to block the downward movement.
Premier Lloyd George, appearing a
few minutes this afternoon in the
House of Commons, was visibly per
turbed. Rising to the floor. he read A
proclamation from the King, declaring
that national emergency exists and
calling up army and navy reserves for
immediate active service The Pre-
mier issued d call for volunteers for
civilian force to be known as the De
fense Force. in which the nations men
were urged to enlist at once to support
the police in the performance Of their
duties.
Fighting for Communty's Life
The government is fighting for the
Ire OF the community" said the Pre-
mler. There Is no Justification for,
the suggestion that this stand is de-
loerate attack on the wages of the
workers. The government has never
pronounced an opinion on the rates of
pay offered the miners. Attempts are
belng made to reverse a Parliamentary
decision by direct action
1T is clear that the miners are re
solved that the mines are to be gwen
up to destruction. For the first time
IN history the nation Is confronted
with the destruction of its resources,
striking at the whole body of its citi-
zens. The government proposes to cal
volunteers. The police are not sufF-
cient for this task and therefore, the
government has decided to make a spe-
cial appeal TO patriotic citizens to en-
roll III an emergency force recruited
solely TO support the police in their
duty. Recruiting starts tomorrow
morning"
Labor Members Beg for Farley
Labor members of the House made
no protest against the governments
decision, although some of them point
ed out that the preparations being
made TO fight the strikes would involve
the expenditure of many million
pounds. They begged the Premier to
meet the miners III open conference
j. r. Ciynes. chief spokesman in the
House Of Commons for labor, answering
the Premier's remark that coal was the
basis OF the economic life of the coun-
try, argued that in a majority of cases
the mines had suffered no damage as a
result OF the strike and insisted that
the miners had no intention Of destroy
ing the mines. The House agreed to
discuss the matter Monday. but mean
while the royal proclamation stands
ana recruits Will be sent to the mines
70 save them from utter ruin.
Food Supply Is Assured
Although the announcement of the
sympathetic strike was provided with
a loophole through which the Triple
Alliance may alter its decision if the
miners meet again with the govern
ment leaders, the impression prevails
that the long anticipated show down
between capital and organized labor in
this country is at hand The distribu
ton of food seems assured, because
the Transport Workers Federation has
agreed to allow few men employed in
rationing service to stay Son the Job
and the governments plans for feeding
and fuelinP the country are compre-
hensive. The transportation of other
goods, however as well as steamship
saiiings, railroad and other sorts Of
passenger traffic and local transit. will
be greatly affected, but even if all the
workers obeyed the strike calls the
volunteer forces being re-reeruited by
the government would prevent CON-
plete stoppage.
Tho total number Of men idle or ON