The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-25
Passengers Resume Runs On B. GM.
 Strikers Return
 To Boston Rails
 On Trumon PIeo

Boston, May 26-CUP)-Passenger train service was resumed on a spasmodic basis on the Boston & Maine Railroad today and by 8 A. M. (EDT) at least four trains were moving over the rails.
 The trains were manned by mem bers of the striking Brotherhood of Railway 1'rainmen who reportedly returned after hearing President Truman's speech.
 First train to set out was local inbound from Lowell which reach ed the North Station here with mail, express and a few passengers who had been picked up unexpect- edly at stations along the route.
 The initial train to set out from the North Station was local head ed for Portsmouth, N. H. Three passengers were abroad this train as it departed with mail and ex- press.
 Broadcast Telegram
 Since A. M. the Boston & Maine railroad had been broadcast ing over most of the radio stations in. Northern New England a tele- gram which authorized the railroad to hire employees to get the trains running again.
 The telegram, received from c. H. Buford, Federal manager of the railroad under United States Gov- ernment operation, authorized the railroad to call on the Army if necessary to remove pickets from railroad property.
 The New Haven Railroad said that thus far no trains except those permitted to carry milk, troops or hospital patients have moved on its lines.
 Shortly after the President fin- ished speaking last night the Bos- ton & Maine Railroad announced its service would start as fast as men became available-with freight trains getting the first call on crews.
 Goods Move First
 Passengers would have to wait until food and industrial goods were on the move again.
 Air lines, buses and street cars believed they could continue to handle passenger traffic, but the lack of railroads already had caus- ed a food shortage and threats of unemployment to nearly 1,5OO,00O workers in New England.
 Panicky buyers had stripped markets of most of their supplies of fresh meat and vegetables and only a trickle was coming in by truck. There still were supplies in warehouses, but Director John P. Mcbride of the state division of necessaries of life said there would be serious shortages by Monday if the strike continued.
 Even immediate settlement of the strike would have its effect on the New England food situation because of the amounts of perishable foods that had been stopped in transit.
 More to Be Laid Off
 Preparations had been made for laying of workers in many indus tries. The John P. Squire Company, meat packers, employing HOO workers started to close its plant gradually because its latest ship ment of hogs had not arrived.
 The Railway Express Agency, Inc, issued orders that 5,700 em- ployes were to be laid of tomorrow night if there was no settlement. Other companies in New England estimated they could keep going any where from two or three days to a month.
 Milk trains were the only trains operating on New England roads yesterday and all truck and air. planes were alerted to haul medical and food supplies should they be needed. The Army's Air Transport Command "froze" its planes at Bos- ton and Westover Field pending orders from the Office of Defense Transportation.
 Buses and airplanes were crowded to capacity and extra runs were scheduled to handle the huge in- crease. Officials said they available vehicle and plane would be kept in service as long as the emergency lasted.