From The Times April 8, 1921
The temper of the Rhondda miner is rising. Today at Wattstown, which lies half-way up the Rhondda Fach, I witnessed a demonstration which successfully achieved the intimidation of the men and officials of the United National Collieries at Wattstown and Ynyshir. For a long time past the relations between the masters and men at these collieries have been of the happiest description. During the war the men worked 302 days a year and once they worked 307 days. Consequently it may be imagined that the decision to abandon the mines to their fate created lively resentment.
The United National men refused to accept the dictatorship of the district meeting and not only declined to interfere with the under officials, but held a meeting at which it was contended that the district meeting had no mandate from the various lodges to arrive at their drastic decision. A resolution was passed that no picketing should be resorted to, and that there should be no insistence upon withdrawal of the safety men. This decision created resentment higher up the Valley, notably at Maerdy and Ferndale, and also at Porth, and arrangements were made for a march in force in order to compel the United National men to fall into line.
Alarming rumours were afloat in the Rhondda Fach last night as to what the interventionists were going to do for threats were made not only against the officials who were working but also against the men who supported the policy of safety. The neighbouring miners were determined to stop pumping at all costs, receiving warning that certain measures were adopted at the colliery, but in face of the display of force today only surrender saved a struggle, for the demonstrators were in superior force, and showed they did not mean to leave until they had accomplished their purpose, no matter at what price.
The demonstration succeeded, and nothing else was possible under the circumstances. The fires are damped down, the pumps have ceased working. and water is pouring into the National Pit at Wattstown at the rate of 80,000 gallons an hour. If this inundation continues for three days the roads will be sealed, and it will be months before the work of partial restoration can be accomplished.