Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-13
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STRIKERS IN RAND
Government Forces Capture
22oo Prisoners and Expect
Soon to Crush Revolt
SYNDICAlISTS ARE BLAMED
BY the Associated Pres

fretoT1a, OnlOn OF SOutn africa,
March 13.--Government forces are pro-
ceeding with great success against the
revolutionists. according to m official
communiquc issued today. The state
ment says:
The total number Of prisoners taken
IN the operations in the central area Is
ZOO. Our forces occupied with but
slight casualties the high ground around
| Westcliffe.
In the eastern area Major General
Van Deventer 3 troops forced the rcvo-
luticnaries TO retire into Renoni. In
the western area our forces reached
Nrugersdorp twenty two miles north
west Of Johannesburg and are now
| flushing eastward. We have occupied
Rietfontcin lin British Bechuana-
| land).
Airplancs have twic" dropped bombs
on revolutionary commandos, INJECTING
J severe casualties. and large number of
strikers have been killed or wounded in
an attack against cavalry at Ellis Park.
says q communication issued yesterday
giving record of Saturdays disturb
anccs growing out of the strike situa-
ton.
London. March l3.--tBy \. PAN
agency dispatch from Johannesburg
says:
Through the capture of spies and
documents II was learned that the
money for the red revolution came
| from abroad
Premier SHUTS issued a statement to-
day, Reuters johannesburg correspond
ent says. declaring that the present
revolutionary movement is the work
of extremists who are using the strike
at the mines at a cloak for the dis
semination of syndicalist views. The
Premier declares the military position
is well in hand. and with the co -opera-
ton Of the loyal citizens who are ac-
lively supporting the Government. it
should not take long to re-establish
peaceful conditions.
Premier SHUTS, in his statement.
adds that while a general strike in
South Africa has been declared. the
mass of workers and trades unionists
outside of the Rand have refused to
be stampeded into It. The CutStand-
ing feature Of the situation, he said,
has been the exemplary behavior of the
natives.
1t is believed in official circles that
there will continue to be small set
backs. such as the loss Of isolated posts.
but as regards the general result lit
tie doubt Is felt.
johannesburg, South Africa, March
13.-(By A. PA shot was fred at
the automobile containing General Jan
Christian Smuts, the Premier. yester-
day rs he was being driven toward the
Rand near Potchesfstroom. The pre-
mier was not hurt, although a bullet
struck the car.
Special Cable Dispatch. Copyright. 1888
Johannesburg. March 13. - Half q
dozen battles between strikers and po-
| lice continue to rage along the Rand
Owing partly to censorship and partly
to severed teleSraphic connections, re.
ports still are meager.
From Ncwlands, Auckland Park, BE
, noni, Breakpan and Fordsburg CONF
accounts of vigorous fighting. The bat
tie at Boksburg. which ragged all o.
Friday. has Gained somewhat, the at.
tacking miners claiming to have cap.
, tured a large number of police with
rifles and ammunition.
} There arc strikers in every house be.
tween Fordsburg and Johannesburg
and it is impossible to dislodge them
From these vantage points they poul
in an incessant, harrying fire on the
police positions. The latter have beer
forced TO dig IN to escape punishment.
An account of the pitched battel a
! Newands on Saturday has just been re.
: ceived. Commands of 100 or 2O0'
! strikers attacked the police early Friday
: morning. After stubborn resistance
! Lieutenant Long and forty policemen
were forced to surrender. Re- enforce
. ments. hurrying to the aid Of the New.
lands troops. were ambushed with bombs
! and rifle fire and forced to retire.
: Later on Friday a squad of mounted
y police arrived on the scene and opened
= negotiations with the commando leaders
! Veiljoen and Erasmus, under the flag o.
!, truce. The leaders threatened that i
the police attempted to force tho stu
alton they would kill all prisoners. Ar
additional party of thirty five polic'
q who were hurried to join the origina
{ band were surrounded and cut off ant
are now at the mercy of the strikers
l should hostiities be resumed.
{ A murderous attack was made on tn,
Transvaal Scots while the latter were
s entraining at Dunswart, seventeen miles
r east of Johannesburg. A large com.
I mand of strikers, hiding in command
h ing position, poured in heavy fire OF
{ the troops. The latter quickly rallied
, and returned the fire, silencing the com
5 mando, who retr"ated. The Scots losse
+ were seven killed and twenty fou
e wounded
.