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Show SITUATIONALARMING MILLIONS OF BRITISH PEOPLE AFFECTED BY SHUT DOWN OF COAL MINES. Every Branch of Industry Suffers as ' Result of "Black Strike," and Calls Are Being Made Upon Every Citizen Cit-izen for Strictest Economy. London. Over 5.000,000 of men, women wo-men and children, counting men actually ac-tually employed and those dependent upon them, are now believed to be directly di-rectly affected by the "black strike." Call is already being made upjn (every citizen for the strictest economy. econ-omy. The public is being warned to restrict fires, conserve coal consumption consump-tion in cooking, be sparing with gas, electric light and water, discontinue unnecessary traveling, in order that "a national catastrophe," to which the prime minister so pessimistically re- ferred in his speech before the com- ,mons Monday afternoon, may be stayed. J l The situation in the railway iworld 5s critical. Hundreds of passenger trains have been suspended, stations 'are being closed, thousands of men thrown out of employment and goods traffic is restricted to such commodities commodi-ties as are necessaries of life. Traveling Trav-eling to time is now a matter of chance all over the country, as every hour brings further modifications of train service. In the London suburbs fentire services are shut down. Provincial theaters are all affected and touring companies are being brought into London as swiftly as possible. pos-sible. Another phase of the situation which ,was not thought of until now is the coal suply of nearly every hospital is almost exhausted and as the weather is still cold it is causing great anxiety. |