The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-04
GREAT BRITAIN
IS PREPARING
FOR LABOR WAR
All Sailors and Officers of Navy
Recalled to Posts.
King George Calls Cabinet to
Make Strike Plans.
UNION LEADERS ARE FIRM
Transport and Rail Workers to
Follow Miners.
Estimated Today Twenty Mil
lion Affected by WalkOut.
King George Calls Cabinet t,
Make Strike Plans.
UNION LEADERS ARE FIRM

London. April 4.-The admiralty
today Cancelled all furlos and ordered
all sailors and officers who are on
leave to return Immediately to their
posts.
Such action is very unusual and
may mean that the government in
tends to use the sailors to keep essen
tiaI industries going in event transport
and railway workers join the coal
strikers.
King Calls Cabinet.
Britain's industrial life was shrivel-
ing today. its fuel supply cut off by
the great coal strike.
With the powerful transport work
ers and railway men threatening sym
pathetic strikes which would amount
to practically industrial revolution, the
cabinet and parliament met today on
special call of King George to con-
slider steps to save the nation from
complete breakdown.
Premier Lloyd George told the
house of commons the coal strike will
be discussed fully tomorrow. At that
time, he said, Sir Robert Horne, who
had charge of the negotiations. will
make a statement No negotiations
are proceeding now, he said.
The government recognized the Ia
Dor offensive as precipitating the
gravest crisis since July, 1914 II
flung its power into the fight to pre-
vent an industrial revolution and tine
inauguration of a socialistic expert
ment" at the same time leaders OF
the transport and railway workers
were gathering for their meetings to-
morrow and Wednesday to decide
whether to join the miners.
Plans Up to Parliament.
The cabinet drafted a program to
meet the strike. Later today, 1t was
10 present that plan TO parliament Tor
ratification.
Under the emergency act invoked
last week, the government can sustain
the Industrial life of the nation for a
time thru the use of troops. The
meeting today was to decide how
these forces could be used best in
operating OF essential industries, in
the distribution of food and the pres
ervation of order.
Keeping of the peace was believed
to be a grave problem. With 1,500.-
600 registered unemployed in the ma
tfon, their ranks were augmented oy
millions thrown out of work by the
coal strike. sympathetic strik er s
would increase the number still fur
ther. With dependents of the un-
employed, the county would have IN
the neighborhood of 20,00O,0oO to
care for.
Already great throngs of unem-
ployed have gathered to protest. Pro-
cessions are daily affairs. Officers ad-
rnitted their fear that increases in this
number you'd result in serious dis
orders.
Many Plants Closed.
Shortage of coal already has closed
down many factories. Lack of trans
port would shut down more.
In Sheffield and other districts de-
pendent upon their coal supply, the
usual dense clouds of smoke were
missing. The plants were dead, the
stacks cold.
The mining districts continued idle
workers loafing about. their village:
in holiday attire.
Even the railroads were affected tC
some extent, the number of trains be
ing cut down because of lack of Goa
to be transported.
Dealers collected stores Of petrol
Thousands of tins os motor fuel weri
piled in central locations. ready TO
use by strings of motor lorries in cas-
the railways shut down.
Householders laid in supplies TO
their homes against the prospect o
rationing by the government.
With the experience of two coal ant
railway strikes behind them, British
ers prepared methodically for wha
they expected to be the greatest strug
gle of all. Civilians were ready to co
(Continued on page sikh