preparation was made and the commissioners and their officers stood ready for the signal.

In the meantime a Royal Commission on the Coal Industry, presided over by Sir Herbert Samuel, presented its report. The report was vague and woolly on the subject of re-organisation of the industry, but very definite in demanding wage reductions and the lengthening of the working day.

As the renewal of the battle became more certain the miners rallied around the slogan "Not a penny of the pat, not a minute on the day, no district agreements," and behind the leadership of the inexhaustible A. J. Cook attempted to arouse the labour movement.

In April the coalowners announced that unless the miners accepted the employers' demands a lockout would take place on May 1st. On April 20th King George V proclaimed a "State of Emergency" and the special constabulary were mobilized. Hyde Park became a military camp, troops in full war kit paraded the streets and tanks and armoured cars rumbled into Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and all the industrial cities. Warships were sent up the Thames, the Tyne, the Humber and the Clyde.

ON THE FIRST OF MAY

The executives of the trade unions were called to a conference of the T.U.C. on April 29th. The conference continued to sit during the following day (Friday) while the T.U.C. leaders trotted to and fro between conference hall and Downing Street, begging Baldwin to find a way out. Said J. H. Thomas: "I suppose my usual critics will say that Thomas was almost groveling, and it is true... I never begged and pleaded like I begged and pleaded all to-day."

Saturday, May 1st, 1926 -May Day- one million miners were locked out. The T.U.C. conference assembled at forenoon in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, and received the General Strike Memorandum of the General Council. A tense pause and the roll call began, union by union. For