The labor world., 1921-09-17

hOltz in command.
The first order OF the commander
men from the field. Then the oncomi
their homes. Many of them voluntaril.
government troops The men had conf
No Appalling Loss of Life.
Newspaper reports of the great loss
Of life among the miners prove to
have been a grotesque exaggera:ion.
One published account etimated that
it would take the miners week to
bury their dead SO far as can be
ascertained less than a dozen miners
were killed during the weeks war
and eight are dead among the oppos-
ing army of guards, constables and
deputy sheriffs.
Machine guns brought in by Cow
ernor Ephriam Morgan's army did
a. good job moving down the brush
and grass on the mountain sides in
Logan county, but the missiles did
not hit a single miner, all of whom
knew the country and were abe to
keep out of the way.
Three United States army planes
on the way from the Langley aviation
field near Norfolk were wrecked in
the West Virginia mountains and four
flyers are reported to have lost their
lives when a big bombing plane land
ed nose down in the mountain fast
nesses of Nicholas county. Occupants
of the other two wrecked planes es-
capped without serious injury. No
bomb were dropped upon the miners,
as reported by the daily newspapers.
Fire on War Correspondents.
4 party Of Washington and New
York newspaper correspondents had
a narrow escape from the rifle fire
of Morgan's army. They were ira
Yelling along a mountain ridge on their
way to LoGan, seat of Logan county,
when bullets began to sing all about
them. coming from the point where
Morgan's men were located. Boyden
Sparks. of the New York Tribune,
received scalp wound and was hit
in the leg. Miss Mildred Morris. Of
Washington, representing the Inter-
rational Press Service, received a
sting on the hand by one of the Iul-
lets.
The correspondents were rescued
from their perilous position by TWO
miners, one Of whom was shot in an
ankle while guiding the party 70 a
place of safety. When the cores
pondents reached the line held by the
State police they were arrested as
spies, but were finally released by
showing military passes signed by
General Bandholtz of the War ne-
partment, who had arrived on the
scene ahead of the Federal troops.
The "defenders'' who fired upon
hn nd ho
command of Sheriff Don Chaflin, of
Logan county, who has long been a
tool of the coal operators. He was
demilitarized as soon as the Fede; al
troops moved up to that sector of
the war zone. His army was speed
ed to the rear by a hint from the
United States soldiers that his assist
ance was not needed in keeping order.
:. Why 'Invasion" Was Renewed.
The miners marching on Mingo
were headed off at Madison, in Boone
county. before reaching the Logan
county line. by President Charles F.
Keeney and Secretary Fred Mooney,
of District II, United Mine Workers,
and persuaded to go back to their
homes. General Bandholtz was then
in the ditrict investigating the citua-
ton. Why the men later turned
about and resumed their march to
MinsO is best told by William M. Pet
ray, organizer for the Mine Workers,
who was helping to get the men back
to their homes. He said:
The men got as far as Madison,
in Boone county, about half way to
Logan, which had to be crossed to
orl, ,,oA.
:. S.;holtz came in on August rs. He coll-
ed on us and urged THAT the men
he stopped. We were willing to obey
the United States government. 1t is
not true that General Bandnoltz
threatened anybody. He was square
and decent.
AS agreed, we began sending the
men back. The drive was over and
General Bandholtz was satisfied that
it was and everything went along
we'll until the night Of August e.
Thcn Sheriff Chaflin's deputies and
the State consta bulary began shooting
up Sharples is in a little bit of Logan
county where union miners are en-
ployed. They killed two and wound
brought the Constitution back tc
West Virginia. But it would not have
been necessary for the Federal s;:ld.
iers to come if Chafiins gang Of kill
ers had not shot up Sharples:''
Bandholtz Confirms Statement.
o., This statement of Pelry as to The
cause for renewal of hostilities is cor
q Federated by a telegram to the Wal
Department from General Bandholtz
In which he said:
.'It is believed that the withdrawal
E. OF the invaders as promised by Keen
Continued on page two.l -. u