The evening times., 1898-10-11
PARIS 4 MILITARY CAMP
Striking WOrkmen Not Over
awed by the Army.
A FEELING OF FRATERNITY
Discomfort Among the Laborins Ell
ement Continues-A Complication
of Events That May Result in n
National EXplosion-TLe French
Statesmen Facing IA Great Problem

1
New York, Oct. 1.-THE Herald publishe:
the following description of the condition
OF affairs in Paris as presented by the Eu.
ropean edition of that paper:
Paris is slowly taking on the appear
ance of huge camp. Troops are to be
seen everywhere. Detachments of infan-
try or cavalry are on guard at every spot
where building is being constructed OF
demolished.
Yesterday about II. 900 soldiers of differ
ent arms of the service were brought in
from various points TO re-enforce the
military garrison of the city. There was
no disorder. it is true. but the government
/ does not intend to be taken by surprise.
Coercire Spirit of Strikers.
There is a growing spirit of opposition
among the strikers They resent as an
attack upon their chief strength the alb
stention of any department of the build
ing trades from their strike. Where per-
suasion has failed TO induce hesitating
workmen &c join them a mild sort of vio-
/ lence has been tried Some stonecutters
/ working upon some sculpture that will
! make the Champs Elysees Hotel a re-
. markabiy fine structure We're disagreeabIy
/ surprised the other day TO find a group of
! strikers calmly saving through the tall
4 poles supporting the scaffolding on which
/ they were working. Naturally enough,
( they FASTENED to get down 10 solid earth
as quickly as possible. where they were
coolly informed they must put on their
coats and join the strikers in the name
! of the solidarity of labor.
Not Afraid of the Soldiers.
This is the kind Of coercion the gov
ernment is determined to stop, and this
is why so many troops are now quarter
ed in Paris
Every heap OF stones hides a sentry.
and miniature camps. formed of half a
dozen pioupious. with stacked rifles add
a picturesque touch OF color to the
streets. All along the Cours de la Refine
the Champ de Mars and Champs Eysees
groups of cuirass.ers may be seen riding
about slowly or leading their mounts By
bride and smoking to while away the
time.
II must be admitted that the soldiers
cause no fear in the people. Even the
strikers hail them with cries OF ''Viye
iarmeei" Al some places where work is
SIN going on, such the Exposition
buildings. recalcitrant workmen hobnob
chat. joke and argue politics with the
very troops who are there to see they
do not modest the strikers. or renegades.
as they are called by their former COM
rades. who have refused TO carry bricks
make locks. build walls or paint win
dOws. because the navvies have demand
ed an increase Of pay
As for the Parlsians in general they
seem 10 look upon the troops as forming
part of a spectacle specially arranged for
their benefit. They are incorrigible
sightseeTs. There is nothing they like
better than voir passer les soldats. Every
family has brothers or sons in the army
Consequently there is n deep and sin
cere affection linking the people and mil
itary together. II is indeed the strength
Of this bond that makes some of those
who know France and the French best
and who look beneath the surface of
things. fear a Dreyfus uprising just at
this time
Relations With the Drcy fus Case.
Suppose the Cour de Cessation should
reject the demand for revision. it is pref
ty safe to argue that matters would very
likely calm down. 1t is the anti-revision-
list party that is actively militant Most
OF those who favor a new trial for the
former captain are convinced OF his guilt
but think he should be retired in order
TO calm agitation. OF course the revision
ists-that is to say, those who profess
loudly their belief in Dreyfus' innocence
are ready 10 take any steps or go to
any lengths TO gain their point. Still. if
the court Of appeals should decide there
are no good grounds for reopening the
case. the entire nation would swing into
line in defense Of the chose jugee
Should, however. the Cour de Cessation
decide in a contrary sense and Dreyfus
be brought TO France again the Conse- |
quence probably would be very serious
Almost 10 a man the officers would feel |
they were being regarded with SUSPICION.
their work would be done and their or !
derS given in perfunctory manner and |
this feeling, by sort of conta sious SYM !
p1thy, would almost certainly infect the !
men. Should an attack be made upon. |
say, the Elysee or other point, the de- /
Tense would be probably only half-heart- /
ed If a crowd of those strikers who yes |
terday hailed the troops with heartfelt !
cries of "Niye rarmee,' We're to bare |
their breasts to receive the rifieballs tha !
soldiers. backed by The tacit approval of /
their officers, might throw up their weap- |
ons. and if they fired at all, would fire /
in the air
After all, it would only be natural If |
the soldiers should remember that these |
people are their fathers, brothers. rela |
sistance TO any attack directed against |
The government. Such considerations as
these make the situation a very critical
one.
Number of Men on Strike.
There are at this moment on strike coo
navvies. 1900 laborers, 500 carriers. 1000
wharfingers. 5000 locksmiths. 5000 masons
2501 stonecutters 300 house painters. $500
plumbers, $500 carpenters 1900 mechanics
ana 92Vo cabinet makers. In all, some
5000 strong men are idle in Paris TODAY
These numbers may be enormously in
creased tomorrow. Not only have various
participating trades decided to continue
the strike. but strongly worded appeals
nave been sent out TO those unions that |
nave not yet Joined. Among these is the
railway union. Ii is feared, however,
that the strike may soon spread to this
important association Already. with
view OF meeting such measure. the gov
erhment is preparing to utilize a branch
or the military. while, should the bakers
Join the ranks of the diSaffactad braas