you men to realise in the event of it reaching that stage, His Majesty's Government have decided that they will use all the civil and military forces at their disposal to see that the commerce of this country is not interfered with."
Not a word of promise about recognition or the justice of it; not a word for the eight hours day; not a word about starvation wages; not a word of hope for the workers, only a word for you men to realise what civil and military forces can do. There was only one reply to such cold talk-the strike was called, "P.W.W.," writing in the "Daily News" of August 21st, the Monday after the strike, said:
"Saturday brought the Government face to face with the tremendous and incalculable results of the repression policy. Every soldier was standing sentry or under call to do so. If more trouble arose the Reserves would have to be mobilised. It dawned upon the Government that, though the strike might be crushed in blood by Monday or Tuesday, other steps might be taken by Labour. The engineers, numbering 100,000, were ready to reinforce the railwaymen. The South Scottish miners were also actively preparing, a matter of great interest to Midlothian (Chief Liberal Whip's seat), Fifeshire, Asquith's seat, and, be it added, Dundee (Churchill's seat). Moreover, the whole South Wales coalfield, on which depends the Navy, needed but the word.
"Politically, it was obvious, in view of the attitude of the Labour Party, that the Government would fall during the autumn session if the policy of batons, bayonets and bullets continued over the week-end, solely, be it remembered, because the managers were not required by the Government to discuss matters with the men."
On Saturday morning, "The Times" published a statement issued from the Home Office at 11.30 the previous night:-
"The railway strike developed to-day all over the country, and produced a widespread, though partial, dislocation in the
