COLOGNE STRIKES

Levin Daily Chronicle, 3 October 1918, Page 4

COLOGNE STRIKES

A "Daily; Slid!" correspondent reports as follows: ' ' Strikes broke out at Cologne munition works. At some where a few. foremen' and some -riomen are sufficient to keep the machinery going," work, with the aid of war prisoner*) is still proceeding, ,but others, have stopped. The factories which ceased are those where piecework ia.the: rule and-the workers como and go more or less as they like.

"Throughout Khineland there is afoot a curious movement against women ■workers. It appears to be the fact that in some cases!women, prompted by high rates for piecework, have worked right through two twelve-hour shifts, and there are records of women working 24 hours, taking an hour's rest, and then starting another twelve hours' spell. This is prompted by the need or desire to make" big wages sentiment.

"There is another remarkable feature in the western industrial district— namely, the defacement, or ; mutilation of pictures, photographs, and other presentments of Hindenburg. .Frequently: you see Hindenburg ; Tsith has face scrawled across in blue chalk, or a chunk of mud thrown at ?Mm, or his face torn across.. The explanation is 'generally that some man or woman who has lost relatives or a man who has been, 1 called up, has vented spite on the 'butcher.' ■

Desertions aTe not only from units on the way to the front, but also from barracks and garrison troopsin the terior. are .frequent, and it is a com-' mon sight in the streets to seo -deserters being marched- off- between ■ ;guaTds.' Except in rare instances, they ate no longer shot, but sent to hard convict' labour.

"Giving instances of the low ebb of public morality,, the correspondent says, a luncheon table in a Frankfort house was left during an air raid and that two lodgers , meanwhile; stole the ; fo6d. A Dutchman in a train laid a sandwich on the seat while lie looked out of the windojv, and then found" that a German had taken the sandwich and bolted into another compartment." ~