The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-03
GERMANS CALL OFF RAILROAD STRIKE; NJ COAL |S MINE J
Complete Stoppage of Ship mentS of Coal Into Interior Accomplished Invaders
 Take Food Control

DUSSELDORF, Feb. 2-tBy the As sociate1 Press.J-Calling off of the railroad strike by the German au- thorities and obedience by the rail- way men to a request Cf the authorf- ties that they resume work on all lines where they would not come in contact with armed French soldiers were the outstanding developments today in the events of day that was regarded by observers as having brought forth great improvement f the French position of the Ruhr and the Rliineland. A majority of the railroad workers agreed to resume their jobs. Complete stoppage of ex- ports of coal and coke into the in- terior of Germany during the last AS hours, together with the exten- sion today of similar restrictions on shipments of benzol, tar and all tther mine by-products were other devel- opments considered of advantage to the French.
 In addition the French have taken over the handling Of food trains con signed to the regions traversed by the railroads where strikes still are in effect and also directed the trans portation by barges on the canals and the Rhine of sufficient coal for the needs of local populations and industries
 Take Over Food Control
 The complete cessation of coal production. now virtually an accom- plished fact and the inability of the French to send by rail into France any coal for the reparations ac- count were the developments in the situation favoring Germany in her policy of resistance.
 In assuming charge of the feeding Of the civil population in the Ruhr where the railway strike persists the French moved three trains into the region today. The trains were consigned to Essen, Dortmund. and Gelsenkirchen.
 The resumption of work on the railroads is complete at Cologne. Coplenz and Tresves and Ludwigs- maven and partially complete on the Ruhr lines except those encircling the industrial basin. These lines the French are operating. At Mayence the strike is in full swing owing to the French refusal to obey an ultl- matum of the railway men that they release strikers under arrest. The French declined, contending that the railway men had been arrested for common law acts and sabotage.
 The mining operations today reached the lowest level. Production was practically nil. The miners de. scended into the pits but only to re- pair the galleries. They did no ac- tual mining. In an endeavor to solve the situation created by shortage in empty cars instructions have been issued not to send out from the Ruhr more loaded cars daily than empties are returned.
 It developed today that orders from Berlin for the strike of inc railway men to begin was delivered by special agents personally to every station master In the Ruhr and the Rhinelald. The order was accom- panied by one months pay in ad- vance.
 The French announced today that thelr em oargo on coal and coke. in augurated at midnight Wednesday,. had been a complete success. They pointed out that on the last day on which fuel was permitted to enter Germany 122 trains. carving 1761S tons of coke and 29.359 tons of coal. went into the interior, but that today not one ton of coal nor a gallon of tar or renzol passed the Ruhr from tier.
 The French brand as false a story circulated from German sources that one tran since the embargo ran the blockade. They declare that no at tempt Ut such maneuver was made It was added that the French were permitting coal cars consigned to neutral countries to cross Germany on their way to their destination of thelr way bills are correct