Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-09
Army Takes Charge
Of AirpIone Factory
On Presidents Order
Six Men Injured
In Fighting Before
Army Moves In
Ry the Associated Press.

LOS ANGEIES, June 9.-lnree
thousand United States troops, bay
onets drawn, and carrying machine
guns, took over the strike-bound
North American Aviation plant to-
day under presidential proclamation
after two riots in which tear gas
bombs were hurled between police
and a C. I. o. picket line, 1000
strong.
Six persons were taken to the
Venice Hospital after fights between
the pickets and workers who tried
to enter the plant. Strikers gen.
orally yielded as troops of the 18th
Infantry advanced on the big plane
factory in long skirmish lines, but
one who stood his ground was bay
oneted and taken to a hospital
The soldiers moved in a short time
after fighting broke out and tear
gas bombs were hurled as some of
the 10000 men tried to enter the
plant in response to a Government
request to resume production of war
planes.
The troops were greeted with
cheers by the lines of workers across
the road from the plant main en-
trance, who had been prevented
from entering the struck plant by
disorders.
Army control of the huge plant,
which has backlog of 5000 900 900
in plane orders. came five days after
the workers struck, demanding a
minimum wage of rs cents an hour
and an increase of 10 cents an hour
for all workers now paid rs cents an
hour.
Today's action followed an ulti-
matum by the President that the
Army would take over the plant I'M
less the men returned to work this
morning. The strikers. however, re-
manned firm in their demands, de-
spite the Presidents statement and
the requests of their own C. I. o.
national leaders for them to resume
work.
In taking over the plant. 1t Col.
Charles E. Branshaw, in charge of
the western district office of the
Army Air Corps, issued statement,
saying the Army would carry out
the orders.
The soldiers moved into the plant
quietly. Disorders ceased when the
convoy came down the road and
the occupation Of the great aircraft
manufacturing center took place
with the simplicity of routine
military maneuver.
The strike, entered its fifth day,
with some of the 10000 workers
entering the plant in response to a
Government request for the resump-
ton of plant operations.
Twenty-Five minutes after the first
disorder. quiet was restored when
word passed "the troops are COM
ing" A military truck moved down
the boulevard. loaded with soldiers
1t was followed by about so more.
Cheers broke out from the lines
of workers who had been waiting
across the street from the plants
main entrance in hopes of getting
to work.
The big gates of the plant swung
open and the troops moved in.
The motor convoy in its approach
to the plant was augmented by two
marching columns approaching from
another direction.
The foot troops Immediately took
up positions along the field opposite
to the North American plant.
Pickets moved out of the way of
the troops, and placards were raised
reading:
welcome Army, Keep out the
scabs."
The disorders at the plant in
volved about 100 men at the two
main gates. At that time the troops
which were moved into the Southern
California area last night had not
put in an appearance at the plant.
THE situation is very tense. We
had riot a few minutes ago and
tear gas was fired" announced r.
L. Burla. assistant to the president
of the plant just before the troops
arrived.
Tear gas bombs were hurled
against the pickets shortly after
Mayor Fletcher Bowron addressed
300 workers at one of the big gates
and told them:
IF you want to go back to work
you are going to have the oppor-
tunity to do So
The bombs were tossed from a
wing of the big plane factory and
succeeded in splitting the picket
lines for short time. Some of the
bombs were tossed back against the
building before they exploded.
After retreating for some distance,
however, the pickets came back and
| reformed their lines At Mayor
Bowron's order, police lines were
formed on two roads leading to the
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