The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-19
FRANCE ISOLATED
Telegraph Strike Extends
to the Provinces.
GOVERNMENT REFUSES TERMS.
Premier Clemenceau Says Cabinet
Can Do Nothing While En-
ployees Remain Away
From Posts,

Paris, March 1S.-France has been
practically completely cut Off from tel
egraphic and telephone communica
tion with the remainder Of the world
by the strike of 25,OO0 government
telegraphers.
After much delay, however, tele-
phone communication between this
city and London and Berlin was re-
stored by means Of volunteers from
other branches of the public service.
About $50 military telegraphers are
now at work in the central station
and naval telegraphers are on their
way here from Brest.
Premier Clemenceau fatty refused to
offer terms to the strikers. He told the
justices of Paris who called to see him
relative to what the government pro-
posed to do to end the serious situa-
ton and who suggested bill creating
superior council Of the administra-
ton which could consider the employ
ees grievances that the government
would promise nothing while the EN-
ployees remained away from their
posts.
The premier declared that the strike
was senseless, entailing the gravest
consequences not only to the business
of France, but to the country itself
from an international point of view.
He pointed out that the government
now was without the highly important
diplomatic communications and con-
cluded by saying: 1.-The employees
want to fight. We accept, but we will
not cede, and 1 am confident that the
government will win" ...
The strike extended rapidly, and the
operators at the bourse station, who
remained at their posts long after the
central station was paralyzed, march
ed out, severing the last strands, which
included the French Gable company's
New York-Brest communication. 81
multaneOusly the failure Of the tele-
phone operators to make their appear
ance put the final means of quick COM
munication out Of commission.
The situation in the provinces is
worse than in Paris, the public service
employees in most Of the larger cities
having followed the lead of their Paris
comrades. The international and inter
urban mails are at standstill, entail
ing heavy business losses. Some of the
larger commercial and financial firms
have sent agents to London, Brussels,
Antwerp, Strasburg and other places,
where they are receiving messages and
conducting operations.
The bourses here, at Lyons, Mar
seilles and ether centers are at O
standstill owing to the lack Of quota
tions from foreign exchanges.
The foreign office, in the midst of
the Balkan crisis, is unable to commu-
nicate with its representatives abroad,
and, while the government continues
to insist that it cannot surrender to its
rebellious servants, 1t is only too ap-
parent that the measures thus far
taken to suppress the strike movement
have been Ineffective.
Threats of suspension and dismissal
have only served to bring the employ
ees Of the various branches into closer
union. Reserve operators who were
summoned from the country districts
to Paris refuse to perform service, and
the military telegraphers who were
called upon this afternoon and through
whom 1t was expected to re-establish
wire communications were almost help
less before the damaged switchboards
and instruments which the strikers
left behind. Besides, 1t is now realized
that it is practically impossible to re.
place 25,OO0 trained men in a moment
1t is intimated that the government
will find a way out Of the difficulty by
putting forward M. Barthou, minister
Of public works, posts and telegraphs
behind whom M. Simyan, the under
secretary, can for the present efface
himself. With any one except Simyan
to deal with, it is believed the strikers
the vast majority Of whom realize the
seriousness of the offense they arr
committing against the public. would
soon come to terms.
The sympathy Of the public Is agains
the strikers, as 1t is considered thai
their grievances are trifing compared
with the interests that are suffering.