New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-15
GREAT BELGIAN STRIKE
BEGINS IN MINOR KEY
Only 100000 of the 100000
Predicted by the Socialists
Quit Work.
CLERICALISTS JUBILANT
Belief Is General, However,
That Movement Will Receive
Great Accessions ANT
werp Almost Normal.

Brussels. April 1.-THE great strike
Of the workingmen in Belgium TO force
the government TO grant manhood SUI
nightfall it was estimated that 2Wpp'U
men throughout the country had quit
work This number is at least 1pop
short Of the smallest Socialist predlc-
tons and the Clericalist press is be-
ginning to call the movement "a pitl1-
bic iasco." Optimistic Socialists yes
tcrday placed the number of men who
would go out at 100000.
Nevertheless. the strike has shown
greater strength than was expected oV
impartial observers. and because Of tie
fact that the numbers increased as the
day advanced it is generally believed
that the strikers will be reinforced ~
several thousands tomorrow.
The strike thus far has been marked
by neither disturbances nor any special
Inconvenience to the general public.
The gas, water. electric and street
cleaning services and the streetcars
and railroads are in operation as usual
but the Brussels merchants say that
trade is al a standstill. The city is full
of the children Of the provincial strik-
ers. who are being cared for by the
families Of the Liberals.
The only act of sabotage" occurred
in a suburb, where three big machines
in a leather factory were damaged.
Brussels is not an industrial centre.
There are about J0.1pc workmen here,
of whom fewer than 2opnO are out.
The strike is virtually complete IL
many Of the mining districts. but is
scarcely disccrnible in localities such
rs the great seaport of Antwerp. whelc
the shipping continues loading and I'M
loading. y partial suspension Of wOrl
10y the dock laborcrs occurred about
noon.
Raoul Warocquc. 4 Deputy and mine
owner. has declared his intention OF
subscribing S10,0oO daily to the strike
fund.
Charlcroi. April li.-Twcnty strikers
were arrested to-day for interfering
with workers. The total number On
strike in this city is 59.9Gl. out Of IS
$50 employees in the various trades.
The suspension OF work AZ the coal
mines was complete this morning. OK
cept that sufficient men remained 81
their posts 10 keep the machinery n
good order and the pumps working
The metal workers Of the vicinity
have only partially quit their employ
mont but il is understood that to-mor-
row the remainder OF the men in this
branch Will lay down their tools.
Antwerp April 1.-THE comparative
IS small number Of strikers here is ex-
planned by the fact that the steamship
companies have been diverting 80 much
Of their business from this port in an
ticipation Of trouble that there IL little
work TO do. 1t is expected that tile
number OF strikers will be considerably
augmented tomorrow although the
Clerical Workmen's unions are strlv-
ing hard 10 break the strike by Offering
a bonus Of two francs daily to every
man working after the first week.
Mons April i.-Cf the rhirty-6ve thou
sand coal miners IN this district. all have
quit their work except two thousand y no
are keeping the machinery running All
tho manufactures also arc Idle. including
the machine shops and pOtteries. II -
estimated that there are in all forty thou
sand strikers here
STING 0IIT OF ALIEN LAW