Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-01
STRIKE LEADERS HELD;
|NTERfEREO WITH WORK
French Railroad Conditions Be
lieved to be Improving, But
Only Slightly Today.
By Associated Press TO Every Evening

By Associated Prcss TO Every Evening
Paris, March Three active strike
leaders in the Paris railroad unions were
arrested this morning. They were NJ
Sirollc, NJ. Leveqie and VI. Sigrand. Great
excitement among IInionists onsued wren
The news Of tho arrests became current
s;ecretary-General Chaverot Of the
Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean Unions
and Union Leader HourdeaiIx we're ar
rested later. All those under detention are
charged with Interference with the
liberty to work and provoking disobedi-
ence"
Railroad men modified by the Paris.
Lyons and Mediterranean system we're
reporting in increasing numbers last
night, and what little change there - in
the strike situation this morning seems 10
be for the better So far, the general
strike called on Saturday morning NAV be
said 10 be failure, az Plumbers az rail
road mep, even union adherents, are re-
fusing To quit, particularly in the prov
Inccs.
Inconvenience is being suffered bv the
public and freight service is being dis
iceated however, by the existing strike
conditions. Everywhere except IN de-
vasta ted regions Of Northern France
freight service has been virtually aban-
doned The outlook now seems to be
distinctly more hopeful, and competent
circles hold the opinion that IL a suitable
compromise can be found, the National
Federation Of Railway Men will willing
ly call off the strike.
Premier Nillerand made brief but on
timistic statement on strike conditions
early this afternoon. He said:
THE situation is satisfactory. REPORTS
from the companies and the projects bring
confirmation Of the ameligration Of con-
titions on all the systems"
This mornings oihcial communication
on the situation, issued BY Yves lie
Trocquer, minister Of public works saws
On the northern system the situation
ls unchanged, with q complete service.
On the eastern the personnel is holding
out well and the return Of men TO work i
permitting an Increased service. On the
Paris, Lyons and Mediterranean there
has been perceptible Improvement. IS
trains being IN service. 4 he company u
able 10 announce 70 the public the hours
Of the departure 81 trains The Orleans
system. despite efforts 20 have the strike
order obeyed, ~ 10 IL trains have left
for Paris and food trains are assured.
"On the state system the strike is
fort. The suburban service is improving
and IS at present so per cent FORMAL. on
the southern system several workers left
az Bordeaux and more at Bayonne. The
union committee ~ Toulouse refused 70
obey the strike order by a vote OF p to
Is.
Service is normal at Beners, Perpignan
and Tarbes
On { Paris Belt Line onlv further
20 per cent Of train hands quit work.
The order OF the government for the
mobilization for military duty Of the rail-
road men, adopted as a measure 70 COM
bat the strike. hss resulted IN the response
OF so per cent Of the men called ae. ac-
cordlng 20 officials, and this response y
declared by Premier MIllerand 70 he
entirely satisfactory IN view Of the con-
siderable length Of time required for the
service of the mobilization notices
The general strike order, il was stated
officially, has IN no way aggravated the
situation.
The Federation OF Labor, REPRESENTING
the workers in general, which on Satur-
day offered the railroad men such support
as il could give. will decide this evening
what action, If any Il shall take. The
leaders were understood this morning 10
be against calling general strike in ali
the trades because OF the declared un-
popularity of the railroad men strike
among all classes, according To opinion
in the press. The government :
arrest today Of several strike leaders ap-
pears 10 have caused considerable lrriCs-
ton among the more extreme elements,
who regard the government : act as chal-
lenge and are demanding that he fedora
.inn shntlId renlN b. q general strlke order.