The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-03
.RuhrValley
Situation
Calling Off of Railway Strike
Considered as Victory for
French Occupational
Forces.
Food Trains Taken Over

Food Trains Taken Over
Berlin, Feb. Thy \. PEIt is
reported from "A German source at
Essen that two Belgian soldiers. pas
sengers on n tram car from Oberhau
en- to Essen, after having refused &c
pay their fares, taking tie ground
that they were entitled TO travel OF
vouchers. drew their rc,olyers anG
fired, killing n passenger. and severe.
Lly Mounding the motorman. The re
port adds that Germans arrested both
soldiers.
Dusseldorf Feb. e.--(By \ P.N.
The calling off of the railroad strike
oy the Gernmn authorities and obedi-
ence by the railway men to a request
of the authorities 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 n
day that was regarded by observers as
having brought forth a great improve.
fment in tho French position in the
Ruhr and the Rhineland. \ majorits
of the railroad workers in both re-
cions adopted the suggestion of the
authorities that they resume their
jobs.
Complete stoppase of all exports
OF coal and coke into the interior
of Germany during the last As hours.
together with the extension of similar
restrictions on shipments OF benzol
tar and all other mine byproducts,
were other developments considered Oh
advantage to the French.
Take Over Food Trains.
In addition. the French have taken
over the handling of food trains con.
] signed to the regions trayersed by ths
railroads where strikes still are i'll
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 indus
tries. The complete cessation of coal
production at the mines. and the in
ability of the French to send by rail
into France, any coal for the repara
tions account, were the Developments
in the situation favoring Germany in
its policy OF resistance.
In assuming charge OF the feeding
of the civil population in the Ruhr
where the railroad strike persists, the
French moved three trains into the
region today. manned by French
crews. consigned to Essen, Dortmund
and Gelsekirchen. French tugs began
the hauling of coal through Ruhrort
and down the Rhine to Dusseldorf to
supply the needs of civilians and in
dustries.
Strike on at Mayence.
The resumption of work on the rail-
roads is complete at Cologne, Coblenz,
Treves and Ludwigshafen and par
TALLY complete on the Ruhr lines, ex-
cepting those encircling the Industrial
basin. These lines the French are
operating.
At Mayeuce the strike is in full
swing, owing to the French refusal to
obey an ultimatum of the railway
men that they release strikers under
arrest for sabotage.
The mining operations today
reached the lowest level. In an en-
deavor to solve the situation created
by a shortage in empty cars, instruc-
tions 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 railway men
were delivered by special agents per-
sonally to every station master In the
Ruhr and the Rhineland. The order
was accompanied by one months pay
i'm advance.
Coal Embargo Complete.
The French announced today that
their embargo on coal and coke, IN.
ausurated at midnight of Wednesday,
had been complete success. ms
French brand as false a story circu
lated from Germany that one tran
since the embargo ran the blockade.
They declare that no attempt at such
n maneuver was made. 1t was added
that the French were permitting coal
cars consigned to Switzerland, Hol.
land, Sweden, Norway and other neu-
tral countries to cross Germany ON
1.-The way to their destination IL their
way bills were correct. Many of the
French officials opposed this method
of shipment to neutrals. declaring
that in the next few months there is
likely to be large increase in car.
goes, ostensibly for neutrals which
will be diverted in unoccupied Ger
many.
General Payot told the Associated
Press, that his services were now sui.
ficiently organized to insure the feed
ing of the civil population and that
within a few days he would be able
to- undertake the transportation of
reparations coal to France. lie added
that the lines he was operating were
now 90 per cent normal.