Evening star., 1944-08-05
State MobiIizes
Guard Units in
Transit Strike
Three Regiments Set
To 'Mointuin Order:
Arrests Threatened
BULLETIN.

PHILADELPHIA R.-The
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
said today that two regiments
sof United States Army troops
are being speeded to Phila-
delphia to break the five-day
transportation tieup which
has caused race violence and
slashed war production.
By the Associated Press.
PHIL ADELPH HIA, Aug. S.
Three regiments of the Penn
sylvania State Guard, fully
armed, were modified today as
5000 Philadelphia transit strik-
ers again defied United States
Army orders to end a five-day
work stoppage marked by racial
disorders and threats of violence
against returning workers.
A high source said the guard units
would be used "only to maintain
order" In connection with the
Army's efforts to restore bus, trolley,
subway and subway elevated service
IN the Nations second largest
arsenal.
Guard troops, he said, will be
ready for action within an hour
after receipt of q call" from the
Army. No call was issued imme-
diately and no disorder was re-
ported today.
This source said the Army had
told him that troops brought here
viii be used only to operate the
Philadelphia Transportation Co.'S
rolling stock" He did not say
whether any troops already had ar
rived.
A showdown appeared imminent
between the strikers and the Army,
which seized the lines Thursday
night by order of President Roose-
velt. Arrests were indicated.
Comment on Mobilization Refused.
The Philadelphia Army public re-
lations section said it could not com.
ment on the mobilization, which af-
fected units stationed as far away
as Altoona, 234 miles west of here.
Omctally 1t was described as q
test mobilization but the source said
the units will be used by the Army
as a military force to suppress law
breakers and keep the peace"
Army public relations officers
asked newspapers this morning not
to publish pictures Of or use the
names Of any workers who had re-
turned or might return.
The plain fact is that they're
afraid" an oficer said.
The Army yesterday arranged for
policemen to ride with operators
but only few would work even with
police protection. An Army state
ment referred to threats" against
them and said persons interfering
with restoration of service were zap
parently more interested in aiding
the Axis than In seeing to it that
essential transportation is provided
for Philadelphia war workers"
The CIO Transport Workers
Union, which opposed the strike, has
said it was instigated by enemy
agents.
10 'El" Trains Operate.
With only 10 trains moving on
the Market street Ell" and all
buses, trolleys and subway trains
out of service, hundred of thous-
ands again got to their jobs by
walking or on makeshift buses pro-
vided by plants.
1t was a humid day, with the
temperature at 90.
Michael j. Quill, president of tho
TWU, accused the company of "col.
lusion in plotting this work stop
page and in prolonging it." saying
"the visible ringleaders are only
puppets"
why are the ringleaders given
free use Of company facilities and
company property to carry on their
destructive work." he asked in an
apparent reference to strike meet
ings held on company property.
"The TWU will continue its ef-
forts to get the cars rolling and
we are confident we will succeed
as soon as proper protection is
given against threats of violence
and as soon as the companys OBJ
struction Is removed"
The company did not comment
on his charge.
| The Army disclosed that its next
step in the dispute, stemming from
white workers opposition to the
upgrading Of Negro transit em-
(See TRANSIT, Page A-5)
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