New-York tribune., 1922-02-06
Trolley System Also Shut
Down as Employees Of
Utility Plants Quit,
Dcfying Union Heads
Capital Isolated
By Rail Walk-Ou,
Road Workers Refuse 10
Return as Communists
Try to Stir Up Revolt
By Joseph ShapIcn
Hy Wireless 10 The Tribune

'PSi' e"' l'-S, New York Tribune Inc
BERLIN, Feb. 5. - Bcrlin's light
water and trolley service was cut off at
midnight last night, when the en-
ployccs of these public utility services
walked out on strike. The city is 2
desert, not drop Of water being OBJ
ta'nablc except at hospitals and the 70
illogical gardens. AS some expressed
IT, the most favored inhabitants of the
worlds third largest city arc the croco-
dlcs in the ZOO.
The situation is grave. for with the
municipal strike, the national railroad
paralysis and cessation of suburban
TRAIN service Berlin's millions arc with
OUT means OF communication and are
virtually cut off from the outside world
ne lack of water, added to the food
shortagc,7 Is giving the authorities
great concern. All Industries in the
city Will be shut down within forty
elght hours for want of coal and mower
unless the local strike ends and vo]un
lecr crews can get fuel into the cjtv.
inc cold wave prevailing throughout
nor'hcrn Germany is magnifying tho
u'SlrcSs IN many other cities besides
Berlin.
Arbitration Board Deficd
Inc ght, water and trolley strike
was called in defiance CT the decision,
or the regular arbitration board that
the men should continue to operatc
uhuer the present wage scale and work
ing conditions another six months
me order to walk out was issued nv y
mysterious strike committee. even thc
identify of which is not known. All
Vhe responsible labor organization
condemn the movement.
Practically the entire Labor Socjalis,
press denounccs the walkout as An
irreSponslblc crime against the city
orWaerts condemns the strike feve,
cnergctically famed by the Commu.
nIsts as "lnsanity,' and demands that
the strikers return Immediately.
The "Freiheit" takes a similar stand
charging that the strike was calle,
without consultations with the rest OF
the labor organizations. 1t demands thai
the walkout be called off. saving the
strikers violated their pledge to abide
by arbitration and recklessly placed
the city's 100000 inhabitants in 3
situation of the greatest need and dis
comfort.
Demand Government Concessions
The railway situation remains un-
cleared. While 1000 Of the 1000 loco
motive drivers resumed work and the
government is proposing the establish
ment of an emergency service, the
roads remain badly crippled. The
strikers leaders refuse to call off the
walkout until the government oAiciall,
has Withdrawn the strike prohibition
order. It is impossible to determine
whether the mass Of the workers is 90
ing to follow the orders Of the bona
t!dc unions or flock to the support OF
the irresponsible strike committees
While the municipal strike in Berlin
has no direct connection with the rail
way walkout, its psychological effect
way strike continues. Likewise, it is
tentiaities of the rump strike move
ment. for there is no doubt that the
extreme Communist elements striking
will try to turn the movement into an
other armed revolt against the govern
ment. The success of such a movemen,
under present circumstance is negli-
gible, but if the strike goes on for any
length Of time it will likely have the
most serious consequences on the in
ternal economic and political situation
as we'll as Cermany's foreign policy.
BERLIN, Feb. (By The Associated
Press) The strike of railroad mer
has extended to all Of Baden, where
the workers wept out last night.