New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-03
Dockmen and Seamen
Also Ordered Out in
Demand of Labor for
Roads Naturalization
Failure of Union
Agitation Is Seen
Millerand Calls. alk-Out
Political Move; Govern
ment Plans to Break 1t
By Ralph Courtney
Special Cable to The Tribune

Spectdt Cdble to The TRIBUNE
Copyright. 1920 New York Tribune Inc.)
PARIS, May 2.--The general strike
of French railway men will be joined
tomorrow by the miners, scamen
and dock laborers. After yesterdays
broken heads, as result of May Day
riots, the railway men assembled and
in heated meeting demanded support
for their strike from the General
Federation of Labor.
Although officials of the federation
know the strike is doomed to failure,
because of the governments deter
mined opposition, they found them
selves unable to refuse all help, in
the May Day battles, and accepted to
the extent of calling out the miners,
seamen and dock workers-the classes
of workers most interested in the
battle cry of the railway mems organi-
zation: Naturalization"
The railway men, however, are de-
manding naturalization in the vaguest
manner, and, in the words of Premier
Millerand, the leaders of the strike
movement would be singuiarly embar-
rassed if asked to submit project for
the naturalization of the roads.
Strike Held Political Move
The truth is the strike is of purely
political nature. Premier Millerand
said this afternoon: "There is nothing
behind the strike but desire to agi-
tate the country and to prepare revolu-
tionary movements"
Public opinion is hostile to the strike,
and even the railway men have not ac-
cepted it Fundamentally. On the whole
Northern line only one hundred men
are reported out, and even fewer men
are out on the Eastern road.
The railroad workers are likely to
receive only half-hearted support from
the miners, because the only grievance
which the miners had been airing was
settled yesterday. 1t is still not known
to exactly what extent the dockmen
will lend support to the strike, but in
government circles it is felt this strike
will be a create disaster for the trade
union movement than was the. strike
which collapsed in February because
of lack of support.
PARIS, May 2 (By The Associated
Press) 1.-The government is determined
to break the strike of railroad men for
the naturalization Of the roads and
has issued decree mobilizing motor
trucks and requisit1oning other trans
portation equipment in certain regions
Technical students and volunteers,
who were organized by the government
during the strike last February, al
ready are replacing many of the
strikers.
The strikers succeeded in Gripping
traffic to-day on four of the five big
systems-the Eastern, Northern, Or
Nd ho "a;
terranean. The state line to Havre
was tied up temporarily and the La
zarre state system cancelled all trains
from the capital. Service on all lines
was curtailed, with the Partisan forces
operating about SO per cent Of normal.
However, Yves le Trocquer, Minister
of Public Works, was most optimistic
to-day
1.-THE strike is a complete failure" he
said.
Determined to Fight Strike
The governments determination to
fight the strike for naturalization has
been voiced by M. lie Trocquer and
Premier Millerand. NJ. Millerand said
the government was prepared to do its
duty in the maintenance of order and
work. NJ lie Trocquer expressed conf
dence in the outcome of the situation.
He explained that he had foreseen the
conflict, and that as a result the rail
ways, public services and industries
had been provided with greater sup
plies of coal than they had had at any
time since the signing of the armistice.
The response of the miners to the
strike order is awaited with interest,
especially as they have been granted
their recent demands. The secretary
Of the miners union in the Loire De-
partment has asked the men not to
obey the strike order.
Official figures issued to- day give the
casualties resulting from the disorders
yesterday as three dead and 102 wound
ed of whom six remain in hospitals,
two of them in a dangerous condition.
The arrests aggre gated 103. The for
eigners among those arrested are to be
deported.
Alexandra Blanc, Extreme Socialist
Deputy, who was injured in yesterdays
clash with the police, will be prose
cuted on a charge of abuse of the
police. Parliamentary immunity, it is
said, will not apply to his case, which
it is asserted was fragrant offense. NJ.
Blanc was one of the Deputies who met
the Germans in Switzerland during the
war at an international Socialist con-
ference.