The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-04-03
LONDON DARKENED
| AS STRIKE CAUSES
COAL RATIONING
Shortage COmpels Cutting
of Train Service 20 Per
Cent. Tomorrow.
CABINET IN SESSION
Volunteers Called to Man
Pumps to Save Mines
From Destruction.
RAIL MEN MAY WALK OUT
Great Britain Faces Industrial
Siege Wednesday When
Triple Alliance Meets.
RAIL MEN MAY WALK OUT

Special Gable to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE New York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
London. April ..
With its streets darkened amuse-
ments curtailed and a reduction Of 20
per cent. in train service due on Mon
day, London on the second day Of the
coal miners strike has assumed an
atmosphere of gloom reminding one
Of the dark days Of the war.
A call for volunteers was issued to-
day by Sir Robert Horne, new Chan
cellor Of the Exchequer. to man the
pumps and fans so as to save the
abandoned mines, and the Cabinet to-
night took further measures to meet
The emergency, which we'll nigh puts
Great Britain in a state Of Industrial
siege.
The seriousness OF the situation was
forcibly brought home to the public
when at nightfall the streets were all
most as dimly lighted as IN war time.
Next weeks racing and football events
have been cancelled. The crowds in
the streets tonight gave many EVIL
dences Of i'll will toward the miners.
Crisis Due Monday.
The appeal of Sir Robert Horne says
that the miners are challenging the con-
stitutionai Government to force a sub
sidy and II is around this cry that the
public is rallying. The crisis win come
on Wednesday. II is expected. when the
railway and transport men will meet to
decide what steps are to be taken to aid
the miners.
The first in a series OF mass meetings
among these triple alliance partners was
held tonight. Early reports had 1t that
there were many fiery utterances. speak
ers declaring that the unions must unite
to resist the attack OF capital on all they
gained In the last ten years. The Triple
Alliance" extremists are trying to stir
UP men by the assertion that II tho
miners are forced to accept district wage
settlements the national settlements for
railway and transport workers also are
imperilled.
and secretary OF the Dock Workers
Union. writes: Il would not be sur
prised IL in sheer desperation the fiery
cross of the Triple Alliance was raised
for the first time in defence OF a COM
mon cause never before presented to
them. should there be no way out OF
this deadlock
Export Market I'm Danger.
Lord Londonderry, owner OF large
coal properties. sums up the things 70
be feared In the situation In an inter
view, In which he says: The strike
last fall was the most disastrous one
possible. II destroyed Great Britain's
export market and deprived the industry
and the miners of profits from that
source. While British mines were cut
of from export. the products OF Ameri-
can and other mines filtered into the
British markets. and contracts were
flooded with American coal. American
coal Is even reaching markets as far
away as Australia. The present strike
will not only utterly destroy the mines
but will destroy the export market for
every British product dependent upon
coal" ~
No serious disorders have occurred.
although some of the strikers are said
to be showing a tendency TO resort TO.
extreme measures and in union circles
II was declared that a much larger
withdrawal OF pump men and engineers
from the mines may be expected soon.
However. this is somewhat offset by
the fact that the miners are In an un-
comfortable position financially and
are already crying for Unemployment
pay by the Government.
VIII Cut Train Service.
The reduction in train service will be
20 per cent. beginning next Monday.
At the same time, II was authoritatively
stated, there will 20 into effect an order
for the rationing OF fuel for all lighting
and household purposes. Householders
will be limited TO 100 pounds OF coal
week and Industrial plants and business
establishments 10 half their normal re-
quirements. However. sufficient coal.
Il was declared, Is on nand TO meet the
requirements OF the next few weeks. IL
was officially announced that there was
no darrcr OF London's lighting being af-
fected
The B1ard OF Trade announced to-day
that there we're ample food supplies for
the present time, and that unless. there
was stoppage OF transportation there
was no need for anxiety over the food
question.
A local road transportation volunteer
system which was used during the last
strike for food and milk distribution
is. being reorganized for an emergency
in accordance with the plans OF the
cabinet. The Admiralty also In looking