MINES MENACED BY FIRE AND FLOOD.

PUMPMEN STILL IDLE.

SIR ERIC GEDDES IN LEEDS. MANY INDUSTRIES CRIPPLED.

There is very little change in the situation in the Yorkshire coalfield, where the withdrawal of the enginemen and pumpmen has led to a serious risk of the flooding of the mines. In the House of Commons last evening, Mr Bonar Law stated that in a few more mines pumping had stopped, and in a small number it had been resumed.

Naval men arrived at three collieries in South Yorkshire yesterday afternoon, and others are expected today. Between 300 and 400 ratings left Devonport for the North. In a statement made yesterday, Mr Herbert Smith, the president of the Yorkshire Miners’ Federation, advised the miners to leave these men severely alone, and added that the question now arose of the withdrawal of the permission given for men to remain at work at several of the collieries which supply the public with water and electricity.

Sir Eric Geddes has arrived at Leeds, where he is superintending and coordinating the work of saving the mines from destruction. He is not concerned with the strike itself.

No reply has yet been received from the Miners’ Federation to the Government’s inquiry asking what action they were prepared to take to induce the regular pumping men to return to their duties immediately. Mr Robert Smillie, the president, will be in London today in connection with the conference of the Triple Alliance on direct action, and developments may be expected.

In the meantime, the industry of the big northern towns is being crippled. Many firms have already closed down, and others will quickly follow suit unless a supply of coal is forthcoming. Many workers have been thrown into enforced idleness.

The strikes in other parts of the country have spread and in Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and Monmouthshire more men are out. Men are also on strike in Derbyshire, Wigan and other places. Some of the Yorkshire pits are threatened with danger from explosions, due to the non-ventilation of the mines, owing to the gear not being in operation.

PITS FILLING WITH WATER. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. LEEDS, Tuesday Night.

The scarcity of coal is rapidly exerting a paralysing stranglehold upon industry. Sir Eric Geddes, representing the Cabinet, has arrived in Leeds with his staff to take charge of the situation. Meanwhile, the position in the West Yorkshire coalfield has become extremely critical, and before noon today SOS signals of distress were received in Leeds from several collieries where the pumping is particularly arduous, and where the workers are all but exhausted. Speedy help will be sent to these places, and adequate protection for those who will man the pumps. Inquiries this afternoon in the Methley, Castleford, and Normanton colliery districts show that all the pits are idle, and some are filling with water, and at that time nothing had been heard of assistance from naval men. Already it is feared the damage done by water in some pits will be the work of many months to make good.

In the South Yorkshire coalfield, where the pits are deeper, there is not much chance of serious damage by water, but the menace is even worse. It is feared that the closing of the pits will necessitate the stoppage of the ventilating gear, and if that happens there will, of course, be disastrous explosions, Every nerve is being strained to keep the ventilation in order, and happily a small staff is adequate for this work, but in view of the ugly attitude of the strikers this phase of the situation contains a very real menace. Meanwhile, the effect in allied industries is spreading. In Leeds today the large engineering works of Messrs Walter Scott Ltd, at the Leeds Steel Works, were unable to start operations, though with a supply of coal from Durham they hope at least to carry on in a small way tomorrow. The locomotive works in the city are mostly run by electricity from the corporation mains; and some firms have had to close down, the last to do so being Messrs Hudswell Clarke Ltd.

Textile manufacturers are also badly hit, and while some have ceased work, others are trying to surmount the difficulty by working shorter hours. Coal for domestic purposes is practically nonexistent. The attitude of the public towards the miners is one of uncompromising hostility.