The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-12
Government Attempting to Suppress
the Revolutionary Movement
by n Display of Force.
CAVALRY PATRoLLING STREETS
AND INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY
GUARDING IMPORTANT POINTS.
Grand Coup Contemplated by Social
lists Next Week During the Re-
form Debate in Parliament.

BRUSSELS, April 11.-Sharp fighting be-
tween strikers and gendarmes occurred this
morning at Bracquennies. near Ch; rleroi.
Several thousand strikers attacked and
stoned a body of gendarmes, who retail
lated by firing their revolvers A sharp
fusllade followed and the gendarmes were
compelled to retreat A squadron of lane
ers, however, galloped up and dispersed
the mob The strike at La Louviere is
extending to the central provinces. About
$1,000 men are now out.
NJ. VoIkaert. president of the Society of
the Young Socialist Guard, who is charged
with being largely responsible for the dis
orders here and for whose arrest a warrant
has been issued, has eluded the police and
escaped from the country.
Additional regiments of cavalry, infantry
and engineers arrived here this morning.
battalion is held in readiness for action
at eacn of the barracks. All the troops
are supplied with two packets of ball cart
ridges and two packets of so-called strike
cartridges. Gendarmes and civic guards
are assembling at their headquarters in
large numbers and rigorous instructions
have been issued for the instant repres-
sion of more breaks in their incpiency.
Four regiments of cavalry and infantry ar
rived at Charleroi to-day. Infantry has
been sent to Louvain and vilvorden, and
sduadrons of chasseurs have been distrib-
uted In the r1idlands.
A semblance of order was restored among
the rioters in the Rue Stevens early this
morning. The police. who had borne the
brunt of the fighting, were strongly re-
inforced by gendarmes and civic guards
with loaded rifles. Orders were issued to
use all the force necessary to drive the mob
out of the Maison du Peuple. Just as the
order was about to be executed the chiefs
of the Socialists offered to evacuate the
building quietly. Estimates of the number
wounded during the riots vary from forty
to one hundred. but scores of injured were
carried off and hid by friends Il large
number of rioters were arrested and are
still detained. The burgomasters of Rrus-
sells and suburban municipalities have pro-
claimed that meetings of more than ten
persons are prohibited and that any one
found carrying a revolver shall be liable
10 six months imprisonment
All centers of agitation are bristling to-
day with bayonets. Squads of cavalry are
continually patrollins the streets and guard
plundering by the rioters.
A manifesto signed by the general coun-
ell of the labor party has been widely
posted 1t demands a revision of the Con-
stitution and universal suffrage.
kilograms from the country districts in
dicate the widespread character of the
movement. which threatens TO culminate
in a grand coup next week during the re-
form debate in Parliament. thousand
demonstrators caused great disturbances at
St Nicholas last night until routed by
repeated charges of the gendarmes. At La
Louviere six thousand men quit work. fore
ing the workers I'm the large industrial es-
adjustments at La Croyere and Haine St
Pierre TO join them. The strikers threaten
TO burn all factories where the workers
refuse 10 quit Strong detachments OF cav
airy are now patrolling the district in order
to protect the factories.
A telegram from Mons says work still
continues I'm the Borinage district, but a
strike and disorders are threatening. Troops