Evening star., 1920-02-29
LABOR Of FRANCE
BACKS RAILROAD
WORKERS STRIKE
Modified Men of Army
Pressed Into Service-Gen-
eraI WaIkout Not Yet Called.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
| PARIS, February 2S.-Trainmer
and other employees on all the rail.
way lines of France have been called
out by a general strike order issued
early today by the National Fedora
| tion of Railwaymen. Limited trair
service was maintained throughou,
| today. however. with the aid of mer
modified from the railway division
of the army and civilians who offered
! their services.
| The ministry Of public works has
| organized a service to enroll voiun-
| teers to replace the strikers. to op-
! crate automobiles and aid in the work
| of Victualling.
| The National Federation Of Railway
! Workers tonight formally issued the
| conditions on which the strikers viii
| return to work. These consist OF
| recognition of the union, application
! of the proposed graded wage scale
| joint grievance commissions. immedi-
| ate consideration of the future status
| of the railroads and no strike re-
prisals.
Labor FcderatiOn's Stand.
The General Federation of Labor hat
! issued declaration asserting 1ts
| solidarity with the railwaymen. as.
surfing the public Of the justice :ol
| their cause and affirming that tne
present situation represents an at
tack on union rights which the law
recognizes. 'It is question OF
| unionization of the railwaymen. OF
returning the railroads to the pub
| lic." the declaration says
Arrests and searches have been or,
dered against the authors OF alleged
seditious articles in lie Libertaire:
construed as appealing to railroad
men and the 1920 class of conscrlpts
| to rebel. pilIage, steal and desert. lie
Libertaire has been suppressed.
/ Other Arrests Planned.
The arrest also is contemplated of
those alleged to have appealed TO the
! mobilized railroad men not to respond.
Many of those to whom mobilization
orders were issued have not reported
for duty. and second notices will be
sent to their homes. President Des-
chanel has decreed that the law. pass
ed Friday, which provides for the
reouisitioning Of automobiles. motor
sity. be applied to the territory ira
versed by the lines of the Paris. Lyons
and Mediterranean Company and the
state Orleans. Midi and East COM
panies.
The labor federation's declaration
does not mention or suggest a general
strike. but says: 'The immediate
course of the general council of labor
is plainly outlined. 1t assures the
federation of trainmen of its support
in the struggle" and counsels loyal
ty TO the strike, GOODNESS and dis
cipline.
Calls for Government Aid.
The National Union of Combatants.
composed Of men who fought In the
Hoc
adherents to aid the government in
the present difficulty.
I'VE do not ask you to become
strike breakers" the call says. We
ask you to break a situation which
threatens calamity to France, to the
ed"
The union appeals to its adherents
to aid in victualling the women. chill
dren and aged and to assist the devas-
tated regions.
Food to BE Moved Fast.
At ministerial conference this
morning to consider the strike situa-
ton. especially with regard to the
victualling of Paris, it was decided
that perishable goods must not be al
lowed to remain in railway stations,
owing to the danger Of the foodstuffs
spelling.
Arrangements will be made to sell
luoSo SOOuS 1ulIueQldIelys InOS0 re-
naming unsold being distributed
without charge.
Apparently. the general strike order
has not been obeyed by all the rail-
road men. On the various lines of the
Orleans and northern system almost
the normal train service prevailed. On
the eastern line the service was suff1-
cient for the demands made upon it..
On the Paris, Lyons and Mediterran-
can, the situation was unchanged.
Troops to Guard Railroads.
Hastily organized private motor
services are making the most Of the
opportunity. not knowing when the
requisitioning law will go into ef-
feet and deprive them Of the large
harvest in fares they are now re-
ceiving. One chauffeur demanded 800
francs to take two passengers to
Rouen, not ninety miles distant.
Troops are arriving in Paris from
provincial garrisons to protect the
railroad systems. Both infantry and
cavalry have been stationed to guard
tracks in the suburbs.
There is great activity at the head
quarters Of the General Labor Con-
federation. where crowds are awaiting
news Of any decision with regard to
the strike.