GRAVE CRISIS AT JOHANNESBURG. TROOPS CALLED OUT.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. JOHANNESBURG, Thursday 8.30 a.m.

The Government has at last moved. It warns the public that action will be taken by aircraft if ordered by the civil power to disperse an illegal assembly. Six units of the Active Citizen Force have been called out, viz., the Transvaal Horse Artillery, the Transvaal Scottish, a field ambulance of the South African Medical Corps, the Imperial Light Horse, the Pretoria Regiment, and the 1st Battalion Railway Infantry. The men must report for duty this morning. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Thursday, 10 a.m.

The railwaymen at Braamfontein and Germiston were “pulled out” under protest yesterday afternoon until the police could assure them adequate protection for their homes and work. The Irish commando and other commandos totalling 500 men took a prominent part in the proceedings. There will be a full meeting at Braamfontein of railway employees to-night to take a final decision as to the attitude to be adopted.

The strikers have undertaken to abstain from action against individual property. In the meantime the Robinson Mine has had to close owing to strike losses and shaft troubles.

“Why doesn’t the Government proclaim martial law” is the universal question one hears asked. Yesterday luncheons were not served by waiters in the club at Johannesburg, and the members helped themselves. There has been no bread for two days.

Last night trouble occurred at the Primrose Mine, outside Germiston. Two natives were killed and twenty wounded, and the manager, Mr. Bruce, had his elbow shattered by a bullet. Two Europeans were killed and many injured by bullets, and heads were broken by sticks and stones. The strikers’ commando was responsible owing to the process of nativehunting. Commando raids yesterday became general along the Reef, intimidating and terrorising the natives. The president of the Industrial Federation and Colonel Pritchard, Director of Native Labour, have appealed to Europeans to desist from assaulting natives.

A big explosion took place last night at the May Deep, Germiston, and the large winch and haulage gear were destroyed.

At an aggregate meeting of the Pretoria railway shop workers, where 750 men were present, it was resolved to be prepared to stand for a “White South Africa,” to strike as from to-night, and to remain out until victory is gained.