Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-17
NAVY STRIKE HALTS
PENDING PAY PROBE
PROMISED SAILORS
Disciplinary Action Threat
ened Against Further Re-
fuSaI to Carry Out Orders.
OFFICERS HAVE TROUBLE
MOVING BRITISH FLEET
inquiry to Open Tomorrow to De-
terlnine Hardships Claimed
by Enlisted Personnel.
Nv the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, September 1.-THE fight
ing hulks of Great Britain's restless
Atlantic fleet were steaming quietly to-
ward their home ports today on the
strength of the admiralty's pledge that
any hardships resulting from wage re-
auctions would be adjusted.
Twelve vessels left Invergordon,
Scotland, last night for Inverness,
Portsmouth, Plymouth and Chatham
after their crews had been told Of the
official decision. There was some delay
in weighing anchors, until the men
were assured the ships would not be
Iedirected to distant stations.
While the passive mutiny in the At
lantic squadron has temporarily been
called of, reports were received OF un-
rest in other quarters. The Daily Mail
said the air force at Malta was dis
contented over pay cuts, but no trouble
had occurred. The Mediterranean feet
at Gibraltar was said to be quietly
awaiting the outcome of the admiralty S
investigation.
Block Labor Debate.
Some nisgivings were expressed in the
House of Commons last night as to how
the Nays example would affect the
attitude of the army and the police
forces, whose salaries also have been
reduced by the governments economy
program. Labor members attempted to
open debate on the subject, but the gov
eminent defeated their move by a sub
stantial majority.
Today. however, it was announced
in the House that any further refusal
of the men to carry out orders will be
dealt with under the navy discipline
act. Sir Austen Chamberlain, first
lord of the admiralty, made the an
nouncement.
In reply to an ironical question
whether the pay cuts were among those
agreed to Professionally by the late Labor
government, he said that when he took
over the admiralty for the new Ma
tional government he found instruc-
tions to make the cuts in question.
Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald
added that the labor government had
been advised by the admiralty, when
the cuts we're under consideration, that
the men Loyalty would accept them, pro-
vided there we're cuts all around in the
public services and that there also was
IN adequate cut in the unemployment
dole.
Army Names Committee.
AS for the army, spokesman for
the war once informed the House
that all ranks had accepted pay cuts,
but that the army council had set UP
a committee to inquire into cases of
hsrdships imposed by reductions.
The Daily Herald printed letter from
the leaders of the Invergordon move
ment to the admiralty issuing virtual
ultimatum that unless the reductions
were revised upward their followers
would go on strike.
1T IS evident to all concerned the
n,issiqe read, that these cuts are a
forerunner of tragedy, misery and i'm
morality among the families Of the low
or deck, and unless a guaranteed writ
len agreement is received from the ad-
miralty confirmed by Parliament that
cur pay will be revised we are still to
remain as one unit, refusing TO serve
under the new rates of pay
The Herald's correspondent at Gro
mary Firth told how the proudest ves-
sells of the navy lay idle and helpless
while 10000 sailors refused to obey or
ders.H The crews were in actual con-
troll of the ships, he said, while the
officers stood by helplessly.
Crew Ignored Order.
When the commander in chief of
the feet signaled the battleship Valiant
THURSDAY morning to lead the de-
nart,lre for Autumn maneuvers in the
North Sea her crew stayed below decks
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