Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-08-11
Transit Strike Sweeps France;
Thousands Of Tourists Stranded;
Coal Miners OUT Gas F|ickers
Red-Inspired Roll
Paralysis Spreads
ToPubIic Industry
BY The Assoeiu,sd Press

PARIS, Aug. IA Comntu-
mist spanked railway strike
against government economy de-
crees spread today to a million
workers in publicly owned in
dustries. Rail traffic was almost
completely shut OF throughout
the nation. O.,
The paralyzing Stoppage
threatened to spread to other
means of transportation, Snarl-
ing traffic at the peak of Frances
lucrative tourist season. Strikes
among postal, telephone and tel
egraph workers went into their
seventh day with no end in sight.
Angry tourists and citizens were
stranded, unable to send mes
sages even for more money to
spend in France-or to get out.
Coal miners were ordered to
walk out of the pits for an in
definite period. Some ships were
tied up at French ports, unable
to leave on scheduled voyages.
Gas workers stayed away from
their jobs even though no strike
order went out to them and gas
pressure dwindled.
Cabinet in Emergency Session.
Members of the cabinet d.
rectly concerned with the Situa-
ton held an emergency meeting
this morning to discuss the in
creaSingly gloomy situation ariS-
ing out of the continued pro-
tests against economy DEGREES
issued by Premier Joseph La
niel'S government.
The ministers may decide to
issue more reQuisition orders for
key workers to return to their
jobs or face disciplinary action.
The workers generally have been
ignoring such orders already sent
out to post, telegraph and tele-
phone workers. Five who re-
fused to, obey the orders were
hailed into Paris court today.
The new tieup was launched by
the Communicated CGT ma
tional Confederation Of Labor),
which called it's 10000 member
railwaymen Of their jobs. The
non-C Communist Socialist Work.
ers' Forces (FO) went along on
the walkout.
Most Of last weeks walkouts
were for "a to AZ hours. This
time no limit was set by the CGT.
Higher Salaries Sought.
The FO and the Christian
Trade Federation (CFTC) con-
troll the rest Of the country's
440,0 900 railway workers. Thus
far. there was no indication that
the CFTC had decided what ac-
ton it would take in the tieup.
The CGT said the aims of the
strike were higher salaries and
an all-out war on the govern
ment DEGREES, which it described
as hitting at the privileges and
social benefits of civil servants.
In Paris, many Of the big train
terminals were closed including
st. Lazare, the main station for
suburban lines. Some terminals
were open but had no trains
operating.
Reports from throughout the
country indicated that the strike
was Increasing In effectiveness
as the day wore on, Near
Limoges, in Southwestern France.
Is trains carrying $4,000 persons
we're blocked and welfare Serv-
ices Scurr1ed to round up food
for children among the stranded
passengers.
LIE Havre Shut Down.
The last three trains that left
Clermont-Ferrand in South Cen
trail France also were blocked
en- route. Through trains were
halted at Bordeaux. In lie
Havre-port city for trans
Atlantic 1iners-the walkout was
reported to have completely shut
down transport.
A new. large-Scale strike in
the government-run gas and
electricity industries was also
feared. It already had begun in
Nice, on the vacation crowded
Riviera.
The nationwide postal, tele-
(See PARIS, Page A-5)