The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-01
STRIKE TIES UP
 FRENCH PORTS
Complete Paralysis of Con-
 merCe is Threatened
ALL NAVAL RESERVES OUT
117ooo Men In the Universal Strike to Draw the Governments Attention. Cabinet Holds an Official
 Meeting Today.

Paris, May 91.-An admirably organ ized universal strike by all branches of the ship workers of France has paralyzed activity in the ports of the republic. l Unlike an ordinary strike, this move- ment is not attended with bitterness against the employers. The strike is to draw the attention to the strikers cause. The naval reservists claim that it is im- possible for the widows of the seamen to support themselves and children on the pensions granted.
 The government. fully alive to the im- portance of the movement, has made ar engagements to assure the continuation of the maritime postal service, and the i transportation of perishable cargoes. The 1 cabinet will hold a special meeting to-
 morrow in an effort to end the strike, as the leading steamship lines are much embarrassed, and have appealed to the government to take rapid steps to remove | the cause of state of affairs for which they are in no way responsible.
 The French line announced this evening that neither La Province nor La Gascogne would be able to sail from Havre for New York, all the men of the two crews having abandoned their ships French commerce is threatened with complete paralysis as a result Of the gen eral strike of sailors belonging to the naval reserve, which went into operation at day light today at all the ports of France. The naval reserves comprise nearly the entire maritime population de- to ThaN- about 117 ,000 men, of whom 25 GOO belong to the war fleet. Practically the entire per sonnel of the merchant marine, as well a the longshoremen, are inscribed in the naval reserve. The executive commit tee of the National Seamen'S union or dered the strike because the members of the union regard the governments new bill, increasing pensions from $40.S to $72.50 in the case of seamen, and from $156 to $2O0 in the case of captains as being inadequate.
 The reports thus far received indicate that the tie-up is complete. At the Medl- terranean, Atlantic and channel ports the crews generally left their ships. The gov ernment promptly ordered the army transports at Marseilles to be placed In commission in order to insure a mall ser vice between France and her African poSSeSSlODS, DuL lne trdnspOTlatlOn cOIn- panies were taken by surprise, and are at the mercy of the strikers.
 The officials of the French Trans-At- lantic company hope that the steamer La Provence will be able to sail from Havre | tomorrow but they are not certain that | she will be able to do so. Generally, the companies are in a position to coerce the men, being members of the naval re- serve the crews are subject to heavy for I'm ,nrdi i,ot ht,t fs garded as more likely that they will try to effect a compromise
 Havre, May 3.-The main strike here is complete the crews leaving both ocean and coasting vessels. Several thousand emigrants are here awaiting transporta- ton on the La Gascogne for America.
 No violence has been reported The sailors who came ashore reported ac- ording to regulations.
 Brest France, May 31.-There has been no response to the strike call thus far. The seamen and 1ongshoremen reported for work today as usual.
 Marseilles, May Sl-The sailors and and others here responded to the strike call almost to a man. The crews of eight vessels of the Maritime company should cred their sea kits and disembarlxed amid the cheers of the longshoremen and crews of the steamers of the Transatlantic companies.
 The crews of the tugs at this port will Istrike tomorrow, as to complete the movement. Even the fishermen have drawn up their nets.
 The vessels scheduled to sail today, in- cluding the Roma, bound for New York, got away on time.
 TouIon May 1-'rhe strike of the sailors and longshoremen her Is complete. Tor pedo boats are held in readiness for mail service.
 Bordeaux, France, May 31.-The seamen here today resolved to join the strikers.
 Rouen, France, May 31-The longshore- men here have aabndoned their work.