TRINIDAD OIL STRIKE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 455, 24 June 1937, Page 5

TRINIDAD OIL STRIKE

DEATH ROLL FOURTEEN British Marines Land Press Association—Copyright. Port of Spain, June 23. Four more were killed in a clash between Trinidad bil strikers and tlie police, bringing the list of dead to 14. Four platoons of marines landed from H.M.S Ajax and established machine-guns in strategic positions l to protect the oilfields. H.M.S. Exeter is expected soon with reinforcements. At Rioclara a mob burned the railway station, tore up the tria-cks and cut telephone wires, isolating the region. Port of Spain harbour workers de*, dared a sympathy strike. The island’s entire oil industry is crippled and much other business is suspended. There was one death land eight more were wounded when volunteers fired on a group of strikers in the oilfields who were- attacking the San Fernando telephone exchange. The strikers previously had (.riven out from the power plant after cut. ting off the electricity. The oilfield .auhorities. have sent the largest mobilisation of police volunteers in 30 years to cop? with the situation. The strike is spreading to the sugar estates and transport workers.