The Syndicalist strike in South Africa is in process of
collapse, thanks to the unexampled promptitude and thorough. nesa of General Botha 's Government. Directly it was clear
that the railway strike would develop, unless it were checked, into a general strike, martial law was proclaimed in large areas of the Transvaal, the Orange Free State, and Natal. General Botha also mobilized the Defence Force, and seventy thousand men were quickly under arms. The newspapers suspended publication. The Government commandeered the coal supplies and entrusted their distribution to the Committee of Public Safety. The very name of such a body as this suggests the intensity of the crisis, though perhaps some of its members knew nothing of the sinister historical associations of the Committees of the French Revolution and of 1848- The violent intentions of the strikers were proved by scattered attempts to blow up bridges and derail trains. Manifestoes were issued by the Government to the effect that suspected persons might be shot if they did not obey the order of " Hands np !" and that persons carrying dynamite were liable to the death penalty.
