The Washington times., 1910-10-12
Paris Food Supply Cut Off
by General Railroad
Strike.
MILITARY MAY TAKE
CHARGE OF TRAINS
Army Caught at a Disadvantage by
Railway Employes-Violence
Reported in Provinces.

.
growing out Of the great railroad strike.
which has already extended to every
railroad Of Importance in the republic.
With Paris practically isolated from
the rest o. Europe and famine threaten
ing the populace, the situation attained
It's most critical aspect today.
The electricians and employees Of tho
omnibus city and suburban lines today
considered the advisability Of seizing
the present opportunity 20 present a
strike ultimatum-
At BOis des COlombes today 300
strikers invaded railroad property and
held up two freight trains, breaking
open the doors Of stock cars and allow
ing the cattle, which were being trans
ported, to escape. The men were re-
turning from mass meeting at BecOn.
Several cars were overturned. and the
situation became so acute finally that
soldiers were asked for to Queil the
TiOting.
The employees on the suburban lines
Of the Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean
at a meeting decided to quit at 10
o'clock tonight
Famine Threatens City.
Famine is already at the gates Of the
city, in which the inhabitants are rap
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plies.
Extremists IN the cabinet are advocat-
ing the use Of soldiers to operate the
trains. and Premier BRAND is reported
to have urged that the entire situation
be placed in the hands Of the minister
of war, with full authority to take the
most drastic measures.
Already the government has taken
radical steps TO prevent violence Sol
fected lines and massed in cities which
have been the greatest centers of IN
rest.
The strikers have begun to tamper
with the brakes on the various trains
They are deTanging telegraph lines and
railroad signals, SO that II Is dangerous
10 run trains even with army engineers
IN charge.
a strike Of the employees on the Met
rOpolitan railway, owning the operat-
ing all the Paris underground system,
is also being IoTOred by the men, while
a strike Of the OmnibOus drivers and
tramway motormen, In sympathy with
the railroad men IS being discussed apd
Will probably take place
Telegraph and Telephone wires were
CIT today, making the diSpaIChlng OF
trains impossible. The St LaZare ter
minus of the Western railroad was
closed today.
The food situation is rendered the
more desperate by the action OF the
Confederation of Railway Unions today
in voting to include in the tie-up the
Southern and Eastern railways control
ed by the state This now shuts off
the food supply Of the city from every
quarter. There Is no means Of bring
ing aid 10 the citizens, II the present
situation continues, except by the prim-
tive means OF pack horse and peasant
With money in their pockets, the gay
PaTisians'' VIII go hungry in their
homes tonight
Prices Going Up.
Prices for food stufrs are soaring
hourly. Quick to take advantage of
the citys plight, merchants are reap
ing a harvest. The poor Of the city
will suffer doubiy in the present sit
uation. Accustomed to living cIcSe 20
their incomes. thousands of families
have no food supplies beyond the days
needs Thus they are the first 20 60
TO the stores, and the first to feel the
advance in prices The government is
endeavoring TO bring relief to the poor
CT quarters.
pressed into service 70 convey
thousands from the city to the
suburbs. American travellers are pay
ing from soc 10 $500 for automobiles
20 carry them TO CherbOurg, where they
can take steamer and escape from the
strike-ridden land.
The cutting off Of the great trunk line
munication with England through the
ports Of Havre, Dieppe, Brest, and Cher
bOurg. Among those who have been
caught in France and inconvenienced
are several aviatOrs who has planned to
sail this week for America to take part
in the general tournament
DissensiOn cropped out in the confed-
Grated union today which gave the cab
met hope The executive committee Of
the cor federation protested against A
general strike and appealed To various
branches Of the union to resist the agi-
Satton OF those forcing a general tie-up.
Violence In Provinces.
While the ministry has placed the
railroads upon a military basis, employ
ing the same methods as in the great
telegraph strike travellers fear to use
railroad trains even II some kind of
service should be installed because of
reports which came in from the prov
inces today. These reports said that
the strikers had torn up sections Of the
rails and were perpared to dynamite
bridges II the government attempted 10
operate the roads.
President Fallieres arrived in this CITY
today from his country seat upon a
special train. TO deal personally with
the crisis. The line over which Presi-
dent FalhereS Travelled was guarded by
soldiers IL was said that the execu-
tive would ask for personal conferences
with the strike leaders and atteuur tn
lorce through settlement negotiations.
More tnan SNOJ9 men were affected
early today. with this number being
augmented hourly
The railroad men chose a time when
the army is at a low ebb for their coup.
The men Of the 1908 class have lust
finished their service. and the army IS
made up principally Of recruits.
NAY Become MutinOus.
The strikers who are on the army re-
serve lists have voted not to respond to
calls for military service II the call
should be made the strikers would thus
be placed in the light Of mutineers.
The Paris terminals today locked Ike
scenes ia actual warfare. Soldiers with
fixed bayor cts patroled the stations.
while the municipal guard in fIn regf-
mentals and glitteTing side arms also
was massed about the terminal In ad-
dition TO these gendarmes with sabers
added 10 the military precautions.
This was looked upon as the critical
day Both sides prepared to take def
mite StepS-the. strikers TO extend fba
stagnation and the government to break
the backbone OF The situation by esta b.
fishing a train service under the sl1Der-
vision Of the military. Violence was
anticipated here and elsewhere
Two trains, manned by the military
and heavily guarded. left Havre todav
over the Western railway.