The sun., 1919-07-11
RAIL STRIKE OF
DAY FACES FRANCE
Paris Labor Exchange Orders
General WalkOut for
5 A. NJ. July 81.
WARNING BY OFFICIALS
Men Threatened With Court
Naturalization Would
Delay Rehabilitation.
WARNING BY. OFFICIALS

PARIS, July 1o.--A general transpor-
tatfon strike lasting twenty-four hours
will begin at o'clock In the morning OF
July 81 and terminate at A. NJ. July
22, according 10 a statement Issued from
the Labor Exchange this afternoon. In
structions issued to the railway workers
are that all trains in motion at O'Clock
in the morning OF July 81 must stop at
the nearest watering and coaling sta
ton.
Though the Indications were that
sentiment in labor circles favors the
strike, It was far from unanimous. Inc
organizers Of the movement appear de-
termined to carry It out in defiance OF
the Governments warning and at the
risk Of partial failure, and also IN the
face of criticisms that stoppage OF the
railroads will obstruct, demobilization'
which the manifestation ostensibly was
organized to hasten.
The unpopularity Of the strike among
many workers. according to- Marcel
Hutin. writing In the Echo dc PdrS'
causes many of the labor leaders 10 rear
the demonstration will be a failure.
would Delay Disqualification.
NJ. Bigegaray. head Of the railway
workers asserted the effects or the
twenty-four hour transportation strike
would be felt for fifteen or twenty days.
He said Il would cause delay in demobi-
lization, the Fastening of which is one
OF the objects Of the strike. and that 1t
would interfere with the supply system
in the devastated regions. These facts.
II is said, the Government Is using with
good effect in opposing the strike.
The coal miners of central and SOUTH
ern France to-day decided TO resume
work Friday. The differences between
the miners and their employers were ad-
justed through the arbitration OF the
Ministry OF Labor.
After a meetinR Of the Cabinet It was
announced that Government employees
who Joined in the general strike would
be considered as having abandoned their
posts. 1t was decided that Albert
Claveille, the Minister of Public Works
should address an appeal and a warn
ing to the railroad employees, assuring
them that freedom to work would be
guaranteed and pointing out the penal
ties to be incurred IL they abandon their
posts.
Rail Men Face Court-MaRtial.
The railroad men were notified that
they may be court-martialled. Minister
Claveille appeals to the sense of duty
for the Government to apply rigorous
measures of discipline.
Important decisions to reduce the cost
of living were reached at conference
at the War Office to-day among Premier
Clcmenceau. Minister of Finance Klotz,
Minister of Public Works Claveille. Min
lister of Agriculture Boret, Minister OF
Reconstruction Loucheux and Minister
of Commerce Clementel, according to
an official announcement.
Emmanuel Brousse and Andre 1>e-
fevre prominent members Of the Cham
Der Of Deputies. to-day declared In the
Chamber that the steady increase in the
cost of living was largely due 10 con-
tinual increases In wages NJ. Brousse
accused Albert Thomas Of starting prices
upward by paying workmen in the ar
senal at Roanne excessive wages at the
time he was Minister OF Munitions
NJ. Thomas admitted that increasing
wages was not the solution OF the high
cost OF living and said that when he
added 10 per cent. to the wages OF the
arsenal workmen the tradesmen imme-
diately added the same amount to their
prices.