The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-03 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

THE STRIKES IN BELGIUM.

RIOTERS IN CONFICT _ WITh THh MILI-

TARY.

CHARLET:OT, March 27.

The strikers in this district continued rioting and
devastating all last night. At Roux the troops fired
upon the mob, killing five of the rioters and wounding
many others. Many country seats and residences
have been set on fire. The authorities at Marcbienne
and Roux have demanded reinforcements of troop..
Many strangers have been arrested. On several
occasions strikers armed with axes and bludgeons
have made a determined stand against tLe troops
Charleroi itself is threatened. It is defended by the
Civic Guard. An immense amount of destruction has
been committed by the. rioters, some of whom use
petroleum when engaged in their incendiary work.
5 P.M.
I Another Woody collision is now stated to have
taken place at Roux between the strikers and the 2nd
Regiment of Chasseurs, who fired two volleys, killing
ten of the mob and wounding a large number. During
the sack of the glass factories at Bandoux a ',roop of
32 Lancers charged the rioters, but were beaten back
and put to flight, a lieutenant and several soldiers
being m ounded. Several bodies of the rioters still
continue to rove about the country, forcing every men
to stop working, and pillaging wherever they go. The
Pironez and Mondron glassworks are invested by the
strikers, and the Mariemont colliery is reported to be
on fire. Four thousand additional troops have arrived
in Charleroi, but the panic among the inhabitants is
increasing. A convent in the neighbourhood has
been burned down,

BRUSSELS, March 27.

The Burgomaster of Brussels was present at the
Ci,binet Council which was held yesterday evening.
It was decided that the garrison of Brussels should be
kept in readiness to leave for Charleroi, and that in
the event of the departure of the troops the Civic
Guard would perform some of the garrison duty in
the capital.
LEIGE, March 27.
The directors of the coal mines at Herstal refuse to
agree to the conditions nronnsod by the strikers.

_CHARLEROI, March 29, 9,50 a.m.

The night passed quietly in this city, and no fresh
unfavourable news has been received up to the present
from the neighbouring communes. There was no
foundation for the alarming reports current at
Brussels last night concerning the state of things
here. On the contrary, the E ituati on has decidedly
improved, confidence being felt in the repressive
measures taken by the authorities. Small bands of
marauders are still roving about the country, but take
to night before the troops or the civilian patro!s,
which have everywhere been formed. In this way a
patrol of peasants yesterday drove off a band of
rioters, killing one of their number. No other col-
lision of importance is reported this morning. The
public prosecutor has issued a notice authorising
peaceable inhabitants to defend their domiciles by
every means against rioters.
11 A.m.

Reports have been received here, though un(!on-
firmed up to the present, that tight hundred miners
have struck at Flenu, in the Borinage district. The
men are stated to be very excited, and to have blown
up the residence of the mining manager with
dynamite. It is added that collisions have occurred
between the troops and the rioters, in which there
were a nuMber ot wounded on both sides. A military
force from the garrison of Mons has been dispatched
to the spot.
4 P.M.

An Anarchist leader named Splingard has been
arrested. Other important arrests have been made
at Tournai. The men employed at the Allain
Quarries at A.ntoing have struck work, and are march-
ing upon Tournai, where the civic guard are going
out to meet them. A sanguinary collision has oc-
curred at Barges between the gendarmerie and the
strikers. Alarm is felt at that place.

5.30 P.M.

There has been serious bloodshed at CarniOres.
The strikers forcibly stopped the work at the collieries
there and at Ressaiz, and a body of troops were sent
to disperse them. The soldiers on reaching the scene
of action were pelted with stones. The rioters were
summoned to disperse, but refused, and the troops
fired, killing three and severely wounding 14 more.
The rest then took to night.
7.35 P.M.

In this neighbourhood the prospects of a settleurnt
are improving, and preparations are being made for
a considerable resumption of work to-morrow.
Moss, March 29.

There is no truth in the report current at Charleroi
this morning that the miners at Flenu had blown
up the house of the manager with dynamite, and that
collisions had occurred between them and the troops.
A general strike will, however, be declared at Flenu
to-worrow. Troops are patrolling the Borinage dis-
trict in every direction.
7 r.n.

A body of 300 men on strike attacked the Marie-
mont Coliiery this afternoon. The troops fired upon
them, killing and wounding 11 of their number.
ToraiNAl, March 29, 5 pan.
_ . .

The strikers are proceeding in the direction Of Cre-
vecceur, but are not committing any depredations.
They declare that their anger is directed only against
those employers who have reduced wages. The
public-houses are crowded, and many of the men are
drunk. The panic is, however, subsiding somewhat.
Heavy rain is falling here.
PARIS, March 29.

The newspapers this evening report that the Duo
d'riudiffret Pasquier intends interpollating the
Governu.ent in the Senate as to the measures It pm).
poses to adopt to prevent the Socialist movement in
Belgium from gaining a footing in the neighbouring
departments of France.

In the Belgian Chamber the Prime Minister mane
a statement on Tuesday with reference to the.stries
and rioting, and said that. order would ere long be
restored. The Government would ask for credits for
43,000,000 fr. to proceed with railways so as to afford
further employment, In Bruisels 84 persons have
been arrested LI connection with the riots, and of
these two-thirds have previously been convicted of
crimes. Numerous arrests have also been made in
other places. In the Charleroi district the strike has
terminated, and matters are generally improving in
the Liege and other districts.