The New York herald., 1922-02-03
GERMANY IN GRIP
OF RAILWAY STRIKE
Demand for Wage Increase
Followed by Paralysis of
Nations Transport.
TYING UP ALL TRAFFIC.
Hundreds Of Foreigners Ma
rooned in Berlin and Mails
Go by Air.
TYING UP ALL TRAFFIC.

BERLIN. Feb. 2 (Associated Press).--
The strike of the railway men to-
night has virtually tied up all passen-
ger and freight traffic in Germany.
The authorities were unable to pro-
cure the necessary auxiliary staffs
that had been promised. Only two
trains left Berlin during the day, one
for Hamburg and the other for Han
over.
Hundreds Of foreigners are ma
rooned here. Delays to trains or en-
tire stoppage of services have been
reported from all sections. In the
Essen, Elberfeld, Munster and Erfurt
districts traffic is at a complete stand
still.
The strike has extended to Cassel
and Clemnitz. Traffic between Berlin
and Leipsic has been stopped and
Berlin's city and suburban lines are
at a standstill.
The question Of food supplies for Ber-
lin is being considered. II is feared
the shortage will develop into serious
proportions in the event the strike is
prolonged. IS
To Use AirpInnes for Mails.
The Government announces that It Is
its intention to utilize airplanes to keep
the postal service In operation as far
as possible. Planes will fly between
Berlin and Dresden, Dortmund, Bremen.
Hamburg and Stettin as opportunity
permits. They will handle only urgent
mail matter. A few mail trains also
are TO be kept running. manned Dy
emergency crews.
Owing to sthe abandonment Of the
steam railway services. Berlin's Under
ground and SURFACE traffic to-day was
very heavy. Men. women and children
to-day fought for places in the trains
which were running, at every station
where they stopped. Some Of tho pas
sengers were unable TO get off at their
stations and had to make round trips
on the trains.
The newspapers already are short OF
paper and have cut their editions to a.
single sheet to avoid possible suspen-
sion of publication. A number OF the
papers have only five days supply.
Increased Wages Demanded.
The ultirnatuin OF the railroad men
demanded wage increases OF from so to
30 per cent. for officials and from As TO
rs per cent. for the men. The increases
II granted would entail total annual
budget increase Of from $4,000. 100000
to 10000, 10000 marks. The retroactive
increase in wages granted last October
raised the budget by $1,000, 900. 600
marks annually from October 1.
Another demand was made December
3 for so to 20 per cent. increase, which
declared unjustified. The demand was
then withdrawn. A conference between
the Finance Minister and representatives
cs labor and industry is said TO have
established the fact that many Govern
ment employees were receiving proper
tionately much higher wages than the
employees Of private corporat., ms.
On January the Governm' ut agreed
t. reopen the negotiations for an in
crease. The negotiations were -enewed
January %, but we're postponed to Feb
ruary l. When the unions suddenly de-
mandcd a favorable answer. with the
alternative of strike, the Government
remained silent and the railway men
sassed vote to wanS out.
LONDON. Feb. Funds of the strik-
Ing railway men In Germany, amounting
20 severa. million marks, have been con-
f!scated from the Berlin bank in which
the meneys were deposited. says a Gem
t"al Netos dispatch from Berlin to-day.
Two of the railway strike leaders have
been arrested