The morning call., 1893-04-18
MEANS CIVIL WAR.
Belgium Has Come to That
at Last.
BARRlCADES IN The STREETS.
Women and Children Aid the Men in
Repulsing the Attacks of the
Kings Troops.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

BRUSSELS. April 1.-THE industrial revo-
luton against the Chamber of Deputies is
in full progress. To-day 1000 dock laborers
in Antwerp Joined the movement. The
strikers have cut off communication with
vessels at the Quays by throwing the gang
ways into the river.
They indulged in other serious demon
strations and became so threatening that
the military had to be called out to pre-
serve order. No conflicts have yet occurred,
but the attitude of the strikers is very
threatening and trouble is expected at any
moment. The streets and open places in
the vicinity of the wharves are filed with
strikers, and hourly their ranks are being
sweiied.
The strikers at Mons have resorted to the
use of dynamite. A bomb which had been
placed close to the Petit Washes Church
exploded this morning with great violence,
shattering the stained glass windows of the
church and doing other damage. There is
no ciew TO the perpetrators. but the act is
generally ascribed to socialists.
BRUSSELS. April 17.-Many of the men
employed in Antwerp loading and unload
Ing ships and other work did not quit, and
the strikers made an attack on them. The
gendarmes took a hand and several Of the
strikers were wounded. A number of the
ringleaders among the strikers were cap
tured. There is no denying the fact that a
crisis Is at hand. Excited meetings in favor
OF universal suffrage are being held through
out the country. and everywhere impas-
stoned appeals are made 10 those who live
by toll to join the demonstration. In the
Charleroi district, where 80, 900 miners are
nmnlOVpn L m 70 mi ic of OF
STILL Most of these miners are mlserably
poor. and they and their families are bound
to suffer. Cotton, yarn, lace, linen AMI
wo6len mills and factories are affected by
the movement. a large number of their op-
eratives having Joined the strike.
Some hot-blooded strikers at Grammont
assembled in the Cafe Holland and held an
impromptu m Getting at which fiery speeches
were made by the leaders. The gendarmes
attempted to break up the meeting, but met
stout resistance. Two gendarmes and a
large number Of rioters were seriously
wounded.
The cowardly assault on Mayor Bulls yes
terday gave rise to an excited discussion at
the meeting of the municipal Council to-
day. A majority of the Councilmen ex-
pressed deep indignation. and proposed that
delegation be appointed to wait upon
BuIs and express the Councils sympathy.
Also that the police measures ordered by
the Mayor be approved by the Council.
These proposals were objected to by the
minority Of the Council. However, after a
violent debate they were adopted.
The dynamite explosion at Mons seems to
have acted as an incentive to the strikers TO
commit further outrages. They INDUCED in
all manner of threats against the Govern
ment, and determined to take possession of
the town for labor procession. A desper-
ate hand-to-hand conflict with the guard
ensued. The battle was loug and bitterly
contested, but finally the guard was victo-
rious. -Four of The miners were killed and
many wounded. This affray has added
greatly to the excitement in the town, ana
there is danger OF a more serious outbreak.
The Government has issued decree call
ing out all the militia for the defense of the
state. This means the mobilization of some
$1,000 troops against the workingmen.
In fight between the workingmen and
the Civic Guard In the street Of Mons to-
day fourteen soldiers were wounded, aud
three will not recover. Dispatches from
Antwerp this evening show that the situa-
tion has grown more threatening since
noon. The strikers gathered repeatedly in
trict. AT 3 o'clock a squadron of police rid
ing with drawn swords against the working
men were overwhelmed with a shower of
stones and tmberS, and retired in confu-
sion. While the reserves were being sum-
moned the strikers threw up barricades in
the side streets, and women and children
FASTENED from the houses with firearms
When another squadron of police, sup
ported by detachment Of the Civic Guard.
tried half an hour later TO drive back the
mob they were met with volleys from the
revolvers and rifles Of the men behind bar
ricades. Many soldiers were hurt and re-
moved to the hospital and more of the mill
tary were summoned, aud the REINFORCE
ments carried the barricades. The crowds are
still gathering in the northern district this
evening. and more fighting is expected.
Extraordinary military measures will be
adopted tomorrow to preserve order In
this city. Strong re-enforcements of chas-
seurs aud carbiners are arriving with
every train this evening and all officers
have received the city map, on which is
marked the neutral zone from which the
crowds are to be excluded.
1t is reported that the Premier has pro-
posed TO the King that Parl ament be dis
solved and general election be held.
Jamson, the Radical leader in the Chamber,
is said to have demanded an audience with
the King.
The anxiety as to the events of tomorrow
is intense. as the news from Mons and
Antwerp has stricken the more prosperous
classes with panic. There is general
tendency to urge the Deputies to decide
speedily the question of suffrage and not to
be too spariDg in their concessions to the
nOnnlnr dnmand