New-York tribune., 1921-12-31
Asks Leaders to Stay Tie-Up
That Threatens Complete
Paralysis of Trade, Pend.
ing Amicablc Adjustment
Extremists Forcing Issue
Some Suspect Governments Is
Backing Move in Hope OF
Escaping Allied Demand
By Joseph Shaplcn
Bn Wireless u The rr.hune


BERLIN, Dec. so. Last-minute
efforts were being made to-day to head
or the rapidly spreading strike move
msrt which threatens TO paraiyze Ger
many's railways, and the next twelve
rours should determine whether or not
Germany will be thrown into an indus
'~isl conflict whose consequences are
anforosccable. The strike grew in
seviousncss to-day and threatens to in
yeivc the greater part Of the country
hy tomorrow.
Unless Minister OF Communications
l:roener succeeds in his efforts to send
tho strikers in the Rhineiand back to
work by means of conference of rep
rssentativeS OF the various railway
mems organizations which he called
today. the Berlin district also will be
without railway communication before
tomorrow morning, with the city cut
of from coal and food supplies
Hundreds Quit Berlin Posts
A strike call for the Berlin district
vas issued by the railway union this
morning, and early afternoon saw hun
dreds Of workers quitting their posts.
Eemployees In the Hamburg area like
WISE voted To Join the national railway
valS-oUt unless the government grants
tee demands of the strikers. The Ham
burg men urged an ultimatum to the
government calling for submission to
The workers demands by tomorrow
noon. with the alternative of ma
tional walkout- To days conference at
the Ministry Of Communications. which
was continuing far into the night. is
virtually the last hope os preventing
what the newspapers term national
calamity.
Chancellor Wirth took hand in the
situation late to-day, when he appealed
10 group OF railway leaders TO per
suade the men to go back to work
pending an amicablc adjustment OF the
~ituation
--latest reports from the Rhineland
show that the situation is as follows:
Communications are completely at
standstl on the Essen. Hamburg.
Dortmund Langendreer and Brer
mes. Stoppage is likely in the Elbcr-
fcid district. The service is badly
crippled in the Cologne, Bonn. Duren
and Aacheu areas. The Barmen- Hagen
DIVISION also is tied up. Many plants
- The affected areas are shutting down
.or ack Of fuel and materials. Latest
renoTts arc that the strike wave IS
leading to the Munich -Gladbach re-
.ion
Tire rapid spread Of tbc railway
fike increment has compelled the
German Railway Union and the Ma
t'onal Federation OF Railway EN-
ployees to give approve to tnesc
spasmodic strike outbreaks lest the
eaGership fall into the hands Of ex-
uemists. who might bring about seri-
Gus political and economic conse-
quences The danger OF this how
eYer. cannot be regarded a great for
nc moment, as the Communists are
100 disorganizcd and too busy lighting
zach other TO take advantage of the
stlike movement. Moreover. they have
not yet lived down the discredit
brought upon themselves by the March
rebellion and the recent EXPOSES that
have shown the Communist leaders
reckless disregard o. the workren's
s.ve- in that uprising.
Railway Officials Helpless
With all that. however, it would not
10 to underestimate the serious po-
tertalities of the situation. il il is
not brought under control in the next
iew hours. The very fact that the
regular railway officials have been
compelled to take the side of the sfrik
ers when only yesterday they were
eondemnlng them as outlaws indicates
the gravity Of the case.
On the other hand, there is some Sus
pcioH that the government welcomes
Inc present movement, III order to
prove to the Allies that it is impossible
80 fulfill The EAtente's demand for d
balanced railway budget as one of the
irst requisites to d revision of repara
tons The movement, however, is as
suming threatening proportions and it
IS not unlikely that the government
VIII seek quick adjustment by a com
promise, which, however. will tend TO
emphasize the Ia mentioned point.
While the immediate cause OF the /
wslkouts-a Ge.aand for salary ad
sances not exceeding 1000 marks-ap-
pears trlfing. the real issue lies in
pending proposals for salary increases
winch. according TO the government
%ould total 10000 100000 marks an
nualiy. aud, it is declared, would mean
the financial ruin OF the railways if
granted.
The govern1ent's proposal for
readiustment df hours, which en-
ployees charge would mean the
abandonment of the cight-hour day, is
another issue behind the present (
trouble.
extremists Force Fight
Rather than wait for an amicable ad-
lustment of the three issues the gov
ernment spokesmen say the men we're
Influenced by extremist elements who
decided TO force the conflict immedi-
ately OF an apparently unimportant
grievance.
There is still hope that cooler coun
SCI Will prevail and lead to an adjust
oent, hut there is genuine anxiety iu
me German capital tonight.
hus far the Allied forces of occupa-
non have not been incorvenienced. az
ne strikers are cooperating willingly
Nth the lnter-Allied Rhueland Com
mission in an effort to keep military
supplies moving
Give 'Flapper' Plenty of
Rome. COIlere Head Saws