LONDON, May 8, 1926 (UP) -- Today's strike developments bristle with the atmosphere of war. The weight of the army and navy has been thrown into the conflict. Troops stationed at strategic points throughout Britain are ready to cope with any emergency.
The latest government communique reports that a destroyer has been sent to Manchester to guard unloading of food ships and that marines have been called out to remove obstructions placed on railways at Middlesborough.
Grenadier guards protect transport of foodstuffs at the great Smithfield market in London and other soldiers guard East End Poplar. Steel-helmeted troops with fixed rifles rode in food lorries thru central London. Fifteen armored cars guarded the convoy.
Tanks moved on roads in London suburbs.
The government communique today said that the troops would not be called on to act unless circumstances got beyond the power of the police, and said "red propaganda" rumors of disaffection among troops are without foundation.
"The situation generally is the same as yesterday," the communique said.
The usual laborite communique was not issued at noon, its issuance being postponed until 5 p.m.
Police dispersed a crowd of 2000 which attacked a recruiting station at Walthamstow. Some forced an entrance before being ousted.
Labor seems temporarily cowed by the government's display of armed force.
The country, generally, is reported orderly.
It is reliably reported today that labor is interested in the suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury that the disputants effect an agreement that would return the situation to the status quo of last Friday when the miners were still in the pits and the general strike order had not been hinted at.
With continuance of incidents which are bound to develop bitterness among the workers, the labor leaders' great fear today is that the strike may get into the hands of radicals.
The men who are now directing the idle millions are experienced statesmen, some schooled by the duties of service in Britain's only labor cabinet, almost all veterans of Parliament. They know how far their rank and file can go, and know the futility of risking open armed clashes. But, as the dull days of inactivity lengthen, as provocative incident piles upon incident, the strikers become more restive. It is feared that groups may align themselves behind the radical members of the labor movement.
These members are a minority, but an active, vocal, and often inflammatory one.
Some hint of what the government can do is conveyed in this morning's troop movements. A broader hint was given yesterday when the government broadcast a message to the armed forces of the crown, saying that troops would be supported in "any action" taken in "an honest endeavor to aid civil authorities."
Sir William Joynson-Hicks, home secretary, has broadcast an appeal for 30,000 additional London volunteer police to be enlisted by Monday. The men will be added to the 20,000 already enlisted.
Rail and transportation facilities are being strengthened every hour. The government is consolidating its position in a way that spells danger for any workers who attempt major force.
In this morning's British Gazette, government publication Lord Oxford and Asquith, better known as H. H. Asquith, wartime premier, declares that the general strike is aimed directly at the daily life of the whole community, and that the man in the street, rather than the capitalist, must bear the burden of upheaval.
Viscount Grey of Falloden, also writing in the British Gazette, says "that the community must work together at all costs to avert revolution and preserve constitutional methods," adding that "the only council that will work constructively to save our institutions is to end the strike and get back to negotiations."
If the government continues with its previous success there is little more that that strike leaders can do to advance their cause by the passive means that are the only practical means available to them.
Following unconfirmed rumors to the effect that 2,000,000 more men were to be called out, the Trades Union Congress officially informed the United Press that it has made no plans to call out its "second line" of workers.
The total membership of the trades unions now totals slightly more than 4,000,000 of which some 3,000,000 are now supposed to be on strike.
It is thus impossible for strike leaders to call our more than a million additional men, even if all those still at work should respond, which is unlikely.
This morning a battalion of British troops was at Poplar, East End suburb of London, guarding the East India docks and the unloading of ships.
Announcement of the troops' positions was made by the war office last night. It was stated no troops had been called out to aid the civil authorities except a few vulnerable spots where they were to act as guards.
It was also announced that certain units had been moved to various districts so that they would be available if needed in an emergency. The war office statement concluded that the "spirit of the troops is excellent."
East India docks long has been considered the place where trouble would come first if any menacing general movement occurs.
The government's "war" has been extended to the official strike organ, the British Worker.
The afternoon edition of that newspaper yesterday announced that is tad been forced to reduce its eight-page tabloid edition to four pages and that it possibly would not be able to appear at all today.
This was brought about by refusal of the government of allow unionists more print paper, although there is a quantity consigned to the Daily Herald, the labor newspaper, stored on the docks. The paper stock is now under police guard and the government's action may mean the end of the labor organ.
The machinery of the courts throughout England has been brought into full action, adding power to the gradually increasing weight held over the strikers and rioters.
False rumors have resulted in heavy fines for the offenders. One printer was fined $500 for publishing in a leaflet a false report that Liverpool policemen had struck.
The strikers have been put on he defensive psychologically. Labor members of the House of Commons are striving vainly to find a solution of the conflict as they see the position of the unions becoming increasingly difficult.
They seek a solution that is not only acceptable to the government but to the labor side as well, and particularly to the miners, who are accustomed to long strikes and the attendant privations.
The miners repeat that they will not budge an inch. The only solution that they will heed will be one bringing them no reduction in wage.
After the first payless Friday of the strike, workers are faced wit a depressing weekend. Their funds are low and many of the men are having difficulty explaining to their wives the benefits of a strike over steady wages. Many small grocers are refusing credit.
Urgent notices to the strikers have been issued by leaders of the railways and transport unions. Strikers are asked to remember that labor must do its utmost to paralyze and break down the work of supplying food and the necessities of life to the English people.
The official British communique issued last night and broadcast thruout Britain and the world said that England's services are getting back toward normal.
While the General Council of the Trades Union Congress was in constant session, "no development giving promise of ending the strike has occurred since the stoppage began on Tuesday morning," the communique said.
Elsewhere:
In Manchester, the entire clerical staff of the local Daily Mail office requested re-employment Monday unconditionally.
In Darlington, the local branch of the National Union of Journalists today rejected the National Executive Council's instructions to strike, declaring that the local newspapermen would continue to prepare copy for makeshift sheets so long as the emergency existed.
In London, the Daily Mail today published a large, double-sided newssheet with photographs. It disclosed that Friday's edition had numbered more than 500,000 copies.
In Hull, the local strike committee today appealed to labor sympathizers to assist in feeding strikers' families. Food stores and co-operatives have refused credit to the strikers. Organized gangs are driving the remaining busses off the streets. Shipping is at a standstill.
In Leicester, very little credit is being accorded strikers.
