Evening star., 1942-08-14
Bayonne Plant
Seized by Navy;
Reopens Today
a Pm. Time Set;
800 Strikers Vote TO
Return to Work
P' the Associated Press.

BAYONNE, N. j., Aug. 14.--T'he
Navy today seized the strike
bound Bayonne plant of the
General Gable Corp. and an
nounced it would reopen the fac
tory at pm.
ANY interference with the opera
ton of this plant is an offense
against the United States" said the
notice of seizure posted by Rear
Admiral Harold G. Bowen.
A Navy spokesman said. however,
there were no present intentions of
bringing in sailors or soldiers to en-
force the order because compliance
appeared foregone conclusion.
Strikers Vote to Return.
A short time after the Navy took
over, 800 strikers voted unanimously
to end the unauthorized strike and
return to work at 4 pm. The vote
was on a motion made by Daniel
Uslan, machine operator, who said,
Let's return to work for Uncle Sam
and redouble our efforts"
Michael Petrakian, strike chair
man, said the workers would return
under the same conditions that pre-
vailed before the strike was called
Monday midnight.
Addressing the meeting, Mr.. Pc
trakian, said:
we all know what happened since
we met yesterday and we're all damn
glad it happened. We're all sailors
now.
I'VE know Uncle Sam will treat us
right. We have a real boss!"
Bowen Assumes Management.
Admiral Bowen, who assumed man.
agement of the plant, made his an
nouncement after conference with
Brig. Gen. r. K. Robertson, direc-
tor Of the Internal Security Division,
I'd Service Command, Governors
Island, N. Y, and company officials.
Those attending the meeting were
D. r. G. Palmer, president of Gen.
eral Gable; M. A. Kent, vice presi-
dent; S. A. Smith, jr., plant man
ager; H. P. Cassidy, special assistant
paymaster general of the Navy:
Comdr. George A. Holderness, ir.:
John A. Vincent, special assistant
to the Undersecretary of the NAVY:
Daniel S. Ring, industrial relations
adviser for the Navy, and 1t,
| Comdr. Kenneth E. Yandeu. dis
trict industrial relations officer who.
a Navy spokesman said, had been
sent to this district as trouble
shooter for labor problems"
Admiral Bowen arrived in Newark
at $50 pm. by train from Wash
ington and went to the plant by
automobile. -,.
AdmiraTs Order.
Admiral Bowen's order, posted
on fences and buildings throughout
the plant read:
| BY executive order dated August
l3, 1912, the President of the United
States has directed the Secretary
OF the Navy to take immediate DOS
session of the plant of the General
Cable Co. at Bayonne, N. j., through
such persons as the Navy designated.
Pursuant to the executive order of
the President, the undersigned has
been designated to take possession
of this plant and such possession has
been taken. Any interference with
the operation of this plant Is an Of
fense against the United States.
H. G. BOWEN,
! Rear Admiral, U. S. N"
The conferees in fixing pm. for
the reopening chose the hour that
the night shift normally reports.
The Army and Navy officers arrived
during the morning.
After they had entered the plant,
Gen. Robertson's chauffeur stood
guard at the gate with submachine
gun. No pickets were in sight,
Mass Return Forecast.
Admiral Bowen, former chief of
the Navy's Bureau of Engineering,
took charge of the Federal Ship
building & Dry Dock Co. at Kearny
when the Navy seized 1t and op-
Grated it for 1874 days last year be-
fore returning it to private manage
ment.
The workers will be happy to
go back to work for the Govern
ment," Mr., Petrakian said yester-
day, adding that the strikers
would work like hell to make
up for the time lost and get