Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-12
PREMIER BRAND
DECLARES STRIKE
AN |NSURRECIION
French Railroad Employees
Threaten to Paralyze Activ-
ities of Entire Country.
FAMINE THREATENS PARIS;
NO PROVISION TRAINS MOVE
Attempts Made to Wreck Trains
and All Lines of Commune
cation Are Cut.


PARIS, Oct 12.-Encouraged by the
effectiveness of the strike of employees
on the Northern and Western railroads,
and the extension of the movement to-
day to the Eastern road and the Paris,
Lyons and Mediterranean lines, the
leaders of the French workingmen gen.
orally threaten gigantic move to para
lyze the activities of the whole country.
The electricians and the employees of
the omnibus. metropolitan and subway
transportation lines of this city con-
sidered today the advisability of seizing
this opportunity to launch a strike for
a redress of long standing grievances.
The situation throughout the republic
is regarded as grave.
Premier BRAND this cfternoon issued
a public statement, in which he de-
nounced the strike as an insurrection
purely, built upon criminal founda-
tions. He revealed the fact that M.
Millerand, minister of public works,
and he were acting as Intermediates
for the men and the companies and
that negotiations for an adjustment
of grievances were being conducted
when the strike was precipitated and
violences were committed. The premier
urged the trainmen not to follow the
advice of the instigators of the strike,
who, he said, would be criminally
prosecuted.
More telegraph wires were cut to-
day, including several connecting
French points with London and Brus-
sells. Telegraph and telephone poles
have been torn down in some in
stances.
Train Wrecixing begins.
The strikers held up the express train
for Havre at Bois Colombes and, COW
ering the engineer and fireman with
revolvers compelled them to abandon
the locomotive, which was then un-
coupled from the train and tipped over
across the track.
The boat train for Dieppe covered a
few miles and then returned here. The
ST. Nazaire and Invalides terminals
have been closed. Paving stones have
been heaped upon the tracks outside
the st. Nazaire station.
The Southwest Express had mar
row escape from being wrecked on its
arrival here today. The brake failed
to work, and subsequent investigation
showed that the air tubes had been
cut. The train dashed into the Aus
terlitz station at speed of sixty miles
an hour. 1t was finally stopped just
before reaching the Dorsant terminus.
At Bois Colombes the strikers held
up a freight train and, smashing in
the doors of the cars, freed a cargo Of
live cattle.
The railway companies are making
desperate struggle to maintain some
sort of service with the aid Of mill
tary engineers and men from the navy,
but are meeting, with little success.
To the governments call to the
colors of 10000 strikers the latter reply
that the military code allows them
delay of fifteen days before responding.
The reservists who refuse to report for
duty are liable to Imprisonment f.n
from one to twelve months
The extension of the strike to tie
east and south has practically Isolated
Paris, which is threatened with famine.
The strike leaders declare that not
wheel will be turning on any railway
in the republic tomorrow morning.
The Paris end of the Western road
strike Is complete. Not single train
came or went out on that line after
early morning. The highways leading
to Paris are black with humanity.
Thousands of workmen trudging to-
wards the city converged as they
reached the citys gates, where the
congestion was frightful. The demand
for cabs and automobiles could not be
met and prices scared accordingly.
Cannot Get Food Through.
The government is seriously con-
cerned over the matter of food supply
President Fallieres hurriedly returned
from his estate in the South today and
conferred with the ministers Already
the market Is pinched. Enormous
quantities of milk and fish en- route
from Normandy and Belgium are
stalled at points along the Northern
road. The blocked Northern line is
the great artery for agricultural prod
ucts. The president of the grain syn
dicate said that the stock of -four on
the Paris market today did not exceed
rs, 900 quintals, which is less than eight
days supply for Paris. This does not
include the flour In bakers hands,
which, however, lS uOt idI6c. Lie pulk
of meats, vegetables and fruits come
in over the Western and Paris and
Lyons and Mediterranean lines.
The National Union railroad COM
prises only 100000 of the total Of 100000
men employed in the railway service.
but a large majority of the non-union
men are participating in the strike.
The government is adopting meas
ures similar to those practised in time
of war.
Demands of Strikers.
The strikers demanded gsaeral in
crease, with minimum wage of 81
day; retroactive application OF the
employees pension law, more
equitable division of labor. one day off
in seven and employment by the
month, instead of by the day.
The great railway lines are the
Eastern, the Central, the Northern, the
Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean, the
Western, the State and the Belt Line.
The total trackage is nearly 25000
miles. and some 100000 employees
would be involved by general strike.