Complex sentence: At the end of March 1917, it was announced that bread rations were to be reduced; 1,450 workers from the Howaldt shipyard and 4,000 workers from the Germania ship yard downed tools.
Split into simpler sentences: At the end of March 1917, it was announced that bread rations were to be reduced. In protest 1,450 workers from the Howaldt shipyard and 4,000 workers from the Germania shipyard downed tools.