The Detroit times., 1909-03-18

oSHSS' W W SGb'C We I've" F0tNs
PARIS. March 18.--One hundred and
fifty military photographers went To
fort 10 relieve the situation due &c the
strike of telegraph and telephone EN-
plcyes. For time last night France
was cut off from wire communication
with the outside world. Volunteers
from other branches of the service
were utilized, and naval telegraphers
are on their way here from Brest.
The strikers were efused terms of
settlement by Premier Clemenceau
last night. The premier declared
when a delegation OF employees visit
ed him, that the government would do
nothing towards adjustment OF diff
culties SO long as they remained away
from their posts.
The premier declared that the
strike was senseless. entaiing the
gravest consequences not only 10 the
business OF France, but TO the country
Itself from an international point OF
view He pointed out that the gov
eminent now was without highly i'm.
portaHt- diplomatic communications,
and concluded by saying:
The employees want to fight we
accept, but we will not cede, and
am confident that the government will
win"
The strike extended rapidly through
out yesterday and at O'Clock the OPP
orators at the Bourse station, who re-
manned at their posts long after the
central station was paralyzed, march
ed out. severing the last strands which
included The French Cable Co.'S New
Nork-Brest communication. Stimuli
taneously the failure of the night shit
OF telephone operators to make their
appearance put the final means OF
quick communication out of commits
sion.
The situation in the provinces can
not be considered much better, the
public service much better. the pub.
lie service employees in most or the
larger cities following the lead of
their Paris comrades. rhe interna-
tional and interurban mails are at a
standstill. entailing heavy business
losses. Some of the larger CONNER
cial and financial firms have sent
agents To London, Brussels, Antwerp,
Strausbourg and other places, where
they are receiving messages and con-
Quoting operations. The bourses here.
at Lyons. Marseilles and other centers
at Lyons. Marseilles and other cen
ters are At a standstill owing to the
lack of quotations from foreign ex-
changes
The foreign Office, In the midst OF
the Balkan crisis, is unable TO com
municate with its representatives
abroad. and while the government
continues 10 insist that II cannot sur
render TO its rebelious servants. il is
only too apparent that the measures
thus far taken 10 suppress the strike
movement have been ineffective
Threats of suspension and dismissal
have only served to bring the EN-
ployes Of the various branches into
closer union. Reserve operators who
were summoned from the country dis
tricts to Paris refuse to perform ser
vice. and the militay telegraphers
who were called upon and through
whom IL was expected to re-establish
wire communications. were almost
helpless before the damaged switch
boards and instruments which the
strikers left behind. Besides, it is
now realized that II is practically i'm
possible To replace thousands Of train
ed men In moment.
1t was minated that the govern
ment would find way out OF the diff
fculty by putting Mr. Barthou. minis
ter OF public works. posts and tele-
craps, behind whom NJ Simyan, the
under secretary. could 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 are committing against the pub
lie, would soon come to terms. The
sympathy OF the public is against the
strikers, as II is considered that their
grievances are triting compared with
the interests that are suffering.
The letter carriers have joined the
striking telegraphers. telephone opera.
tors and mail clerks employed by the
postofiice department. At meeting
they voted by large majority to be-
gin strike today after the first deliv-
Eight hundred postmen employ
ed in the delivery of newspapers and
parcels went out after the last distri-
button last night.