The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-04 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE METALWORKERS' STRIKE IN
BELGIUM.

The Journal de Charleroi of Feb. 2 contains the
following :
Yesterday morning a strike took place almost instan-
taneously in all the metal works of Marchienne, including
the works at Couillet. This strike is attributed to a notice
which was posted throughout the various establishments
and intimated that the wages of the men would be re-
duced by ten per cent. from the let of February, owing to
the depressed state of the iron trade. In the first
moment of excitement some reprehensible acts were com-
mitted at the works of the Monoeau-our-Sambre Company
and at the rolling works of Bedtime, Marchienne, Wil-
mer, and on the premises of M. Victor Gillieaux. The
workmen required that the fires should be put out. They
marched in procession and sang songs. In consequence of
a friendly conference, it was agreed between M. Smite,
the manager of Couillet, and his men, that the works
should be open on Monday. At other places the fires
were put out, and it was feared that an attack would be
made on the important mill at Marchienne. About 4
o'clock M. Clautrian, the mayor of the town, addressed
the workmen, telling them that the effect of thei• conduct
would be to stop the whole of the metal trade,
and that they would be the first to feel the effects of
such stoppage, but they would not listen to him. "He
is a good fellow," they said in the Walloon language,
"but he would lead us astray." A body of the workmen
then proceeded to the rolling works of Wilmer and Victor
Gillieaux and the grates of the puddling furnaces were
unhinged and the machinery stopped. The mounted
police were on the spot since the morning, but they con-
fined their action to temporising in order not to increase
the excitement. It was thought that prudence and cir-
cumspection would be more efficacious than a dis-
play of force. A body of forty of the 11th
regiment of the line in gar lion at Charleroi
were, however, called out to occupy the Gillieaux
works, where the windows had been broken and
stones thrown at the police. The officer in command
received three blows from stones. Towards night the men
dispersed, and returned to their own homes. At Acoz,
Chatelet, and Chatelineau there are no operations going on
this morning. The night passed off without disturbance,
but it is reported that the men will meet again at 5
in the morning, and that there is an understanding
between them and the coal miners. A postcriptstates that
the coal pits at Blanchisserie, Sacre-Madame, and Damp-
remy are abandoned, and that the men are marching on
Marchienne. They require that the bag of flour should
be sold at 30fr. Cavalry is expected from Mous, and the
troops of the line have proceeded from Gillieaux to Mar-
chienne to protect the mill.

It will be seen from our telegraphic intelligence
that the strike has led to a violent conflict between
the troops and the workmen, and that some lives
have been lost.

(RELTEILM TELEGRAMS.)
THE AUSTRIAN MINISTRY.
VIENNA, FEB. 3, EVENING.

The resignation of Count Beicredi is attributed
to his being unable to concur with the views of
Baron von Beust, who proposes that the arrange-
ment with Hungary should be submitted to the
Leaser Reicharath as an accomplished fact.