Evening star., 1948-10-27
Train !. Hauling Miners
Back 10 Pits DeraiIed
In MarseiIIe Area
BY the Asseeiofsd Press

ing coal miners in the vanguard
OF a back-to-work movement was
derailed today near Marseille
and the government charged
sabotage.
The derailment apparently caused
no casualties, but 1t held up traffic
five hours. 1t came after the Com
munists threatened to organize a
general sit-down strike in Northern
French mines in support of the
paralyzing French coal strike which,
now in its 23d day, already has
dealt a heavy blow to French re-
covery.
The government has been stress
ing a back-to-work movement and
the trainload of miners in the Mar
iseille area was part of this program.
The government said spikes were
pulled out Of tracks in a tunnel 10
miles east of Marseille. The loco
motive, tender and first car left the
rails.
The Interior Ministry said that in
the Lorraine fields, second biggest in
France, 13,508 employees reported for
work today. This is more than 81
per cent of the total force there and
10 per cent more than the number
showing up yesterday.
However, more than 100000 other
miners still are out. The stoppage
has cost France some 10000 tons of
coal each day.
Pickets of the Communist -domi-
mated General Confederation of
Labor (CGT) still occupied a big
majority of the pitheads, except in
Lorraine, where police took over
early in the strike. Elsewhere the
occupation by troops and police
went forward slowly. The Pigeot
mine in the turbulent st. Etiepne
district, one of the biggest and most
modern in France, was taken over
without incident.
Coal Ships Idle.
Coal ships from the United States
piled up at French ports as dock
workers enforced a sympathy STOP
page. -Four Liberty ships idled at
Rouen, two at La Pallice and one
al Dunkerque. More are expected.
These shipments have been allotted
to France under the European Re-
covery Program.
Top leaders of the CGT met last
night in Lille, key mining center
not yet taken over by police forces,
and threatened the sitdown If the
government increased its repressive
measures
10000 Troops, Police Ready.
At least 10000 troops and police
are concentrated in the northern
coal fields east of Lille. During the
strike, now in its fourth week, these
shock troops have seized struck
mines in danger of serious damage
from flooding and fire damp.
Government measures against the
strike, which has cost France more
than 100000 tons of coal, shifted
to the fields in Southern France yes
terday when soldiers and police
seized four mines. A striker was
killed in a clash between opposing
forces. The government, claiming
the strikers fired first, sent tanks
into action against them.
Nearly 500 strikers were arrested
for taking part in the attacks. An
Iundisclosed number of foreigners
who lacked proper papers also were
arrested.
Communists Blamed.
The government contends French
Communists were ordered by the
Communist International Informa-
ton Bureau (Cominform) to foment
the strike and to prevent any strik-
ers from returning to their jobs.
Observers believe the governments
show of force thus has these two
aims:
To prevent serious damage to the
mines that might otherwise result
from strike leaders orders to the
rank and file to abandon safety
devices.
To encourage strike-weary miners
to return to the pits with the knowl-
edge that the troops are ready to
protect them If necessary.