The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-07
HOLLANDS Big STRIKE Is ON.
CLASH BETWEEN TROOPS AND
MEN on THE FIRST DAY.
Railway and Steamboat Lines Tied Up
and strike spreads to other Trades
Men Anticipate Laws ForbiddinE
Strtkes-St Gamers 60 10 Other Ports.

Strtkex-Steamers 60 TO Other Ports
Special CaYe Dsspa'ehss TO THE SUN
AMSTERDAM April o.-The committee
Of defence last night proclaimed a general
strike OF all workmen engaged In trans
port work, including those on the railways
which are all controlled by the Government.
1t went into effect to-day and has already
spread to a number of trades.
The strike committee will call a general
strike. but will urge the strikers to remain
calm
A mob gathered at the railway station
to-day and refused to leave when ordered
10 do so by the military. The troops fred
into the crowd, but wounded only one man.
All the railway lines. stations and quays
are guarded by troops. The railway ad-
ministration has taken steps TO secure
the running Of foreign cypress trains
under military protection
All the stats Of the shipping companies
running vessels from Amst erdam to Lon
don and Hull have ceased work
At the present time the railway companies
have a sufficient number of men who did
not go out on strike to insure a restricted
service. Passenger trains for Belgium and
Germany are sent of with some delay.
All business is at a standstill. The mail
boats at the qusys cannot be unloaded.
The president OF the committee on
| defence explains that the strike has
been proclaimed on the railways and
| other land transportation through
out Holland and for transportation by
water at Amsterdam, Rotterdam. Dordrecht
and Zaandam. The strike has been pro-
claimed, in the first place, az q protest
against the anti-strke bills now pending
in the Parliament. which propose penalties
for employees Of State railways who 60 on
strike. and also because the railway men
want an increase in wages before the laws
make their position impossible. In other
words. they desire to make their demands
before they are prevented by law from
going on strike to enforce them.
The Dutch Railway Company has posted
a proclamation at all it's stations exhorting
its employees TO resume work. The proc
lamation states that IL they do not return
to work In twent y-four hours they will be
discharged.
The company has decided not to run trains
after nightfal. Water tanks have been rem
dered useless at several places and some Of
the machinery has been removed from
locomotives.
Nine hundred OF the 400 men employed
in the railway workshops here have struck.
The postal service will be carried on by
means of motor cars There is no anxiety
In Government circles over the situation. as
the strike was anticipated and precau-
tionary measures adopted.
THE HAGUE, April e.-The railway sta
ton here is guarded by troops and police
in order to protect the property and keep
strike agitators out. The Government is
endeavoring to maintain the foreign trans
port and mail service by running trains
guarded by troops. The present interna-
tional service has been guaranteed as far
as the Belgian frontier.
The strikers, will receive eight forms
CS32D each per fortnight from their relief
fund.
ROTTERDAM. April e.-The boat workers.
harbor men. coal beavers. grain porters
and carriers here have joined the strike.
completely paralyzng trade. Steamers
bound for Dutch ports are being ordered
to proceed TO Antwerp or Hamburg.
II is estimated that $1,000 men have
already struck. II is feared that the mu-
nicipal employees. including the gas work.
ers will Join the movement.