Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-10-29
u. S. TROOPS PUT
TOWORK ON PIERS
Regulars Win Attempt TO End
Congestion Caused by Long
Shoremen's Strike.
WILL SHOOT If NECESSARY
General Dawson Says Soldiers VIII
Aid in Moving Transports or What
ever Else Is Needed-Baker
Refuses to Delay Action.

New York. Oct. 22-Five hundred
soldiers of the regular army were
landed here from the transport George
Washington to attempt to end the con-
gestiOn at the army piers in Brooklyn
caused by the longshoremen's strike.
The men are under orders ITO shoot
il necessary" according to a state
ment made by Brig. Gen. Peter Davi-
son. chief OF troop movement at. the
port of embarkation.
The troops will aid in moving
transport or whatever else is neces-
sary," said General Dawson.
General Shanks deprecated sensa-
tional rumors connected with the use
of troops.
There are no machine guns with
these men," he said, "and they are
not TO be used as soldiers in the ordi-
nary sense of the term. There will be
no shooting or anything like that
There are many foreigners among the
strikers and their possibly limited I'M
derStanding of the situation created
by these rumors may tend to make
matters much worse than need be-"
As the soldiers were arriving the
police learned incendiary circulars
appealing for the establishment of a
workers government like soviet re-
public in Russia" were being distrib-
uted to the strikers. The pamphlets
read in part:
fril mo- Ion lnH A
nation issued by the communist party
of America of Local Greater New York.
sixty thousand longshoremen are
on strike against the bosses, the gov
eminent wage adjustment board and
the scab unlonism of the American
Federation of Labor. Strike means
victory. Arbitration means defeat.
Unite with the striking express
drivers. stevedores. freight handlers,
platform men and chauffeurs for one
big industrial transport workers union.
THE government will send soldiers
to take your places. Some already are
doing the dirty work and $4,000 are
on the way. How can you expect
square deal from the bosses govern
ment? The government will place sol
diers at the piers with rifles and ma
chine guns TO shoot you down.
THE only way to get rid of the
bosses government is TO establish a
workers government like the soviet
republic of Russia"
The soldiers were landed at Ho-
boken and Immediately transferred to
Governors island preliminary TO duty
at the army piers in Brooklyn. They
comprised two battaliOns of the 18th
regular infantry, First division, which
was first in France and first In the
fighting Many had overseas chevrons
and wound stripes.
The troops were In command of Col.
seffe NJ CulIison, who commanded the
2Sth infantry of the First division In
France and received several decora-
tons. He was greeted at the pier by
Brigadier General Dawson, who, when
asked If more troops were coming. said
that members of the 18th regiment at
Camps Upton and Merritt, near by,
would be brought here If necessary.
The soldiers were QUILTED with ci-
william working attire. Asked whether
the soldiers would carry arms when
working, Maj. Gen. David G. Shanks,
commanding the port Of embarkation,
said:
"If necessary an armed guard Will
be placed with them, but It is impos-
sibIe for a man to work and carry a
rife"
General Shanks added that no SOL
tlIers would work at commercial piers
or do anything other than strictly gov
eminent work.
Washington, Oct. %. - Secretary
Baker refused the request of Mayor
Hylan of New York TO postpone the
use of troops at New York until fur
Their efforts could be made to settle the
strike of longshoremen there.
Mr.. Baker said maintenance Of army
transport service out of New York was
n mart of the war operations of the
government and that he intended 10
continue the operation of the ships
He added, however. that he was will
ing 10 cooperate with Mayor Hylan
in any possible way ito bring about an
adjustment OF the strike difficulty"