STRIKERS IN REBELLION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 190, 1 August 1908, Page 2

STRIKERS IN REBELLION

SERIOUS CCMi'LIICT IN FRANCE. SOLDIERS FIRE ON THE RIOTERS. .SEVERAL KILLED AND WOUNDED. HAND TO HAND FIGHTING.

Received 31, 11.50 p.m. Paris, July 31, Owing to the allegations tliat the authorities treated the strikers at the sand pits at Draveil and Vigueaux harshly, workmen ot the building and allied trades of Palis struck for the day, and organised a monster demonstration, proceeding to Vigncaux. The chief organiser, named Greffuelhes, a leading ollicial of the General Confederation of Labor, had issued a munifesto frankly describing the de monstration as a preparatory skirmish in the coming war between workers and the parasites, meaning capitalists. Anticipating an anarchial outbreak, two cavalry divisions were sent to assist Mie gendarmerie to police the Vigncaux district,

Four thousand Parisian strikers trudged thither. After speeches were delivered, a group, preceded by a red flag, started towards Melun, where they came in contact with a detachment of cavalry, greeting theni with cries of "Down with the Arrayl" Stones were thrown and sticks brandished to frighten the horses.

After a fruitless ipnrlcv, followingpistol shots from the rioters, the soldiers struck them with the flats of their sabres, dispersing them. Simultaneously another body pre.vented their using a barricade. Dragoons and cuirasSeurs, pursuing and dismounting, fought their way up flic railway embankment. Here a hand to Hiand encounter took place. j' An improvised barricade of trucks was made.

A most serious conflict took placu later in the main street of Villeneuve and St. George's. From a barricade, consisting of timber and chains across thu street,, shots were fired, and also from windows and roofs of houses, besides showers of stones and bottles. Tha Prefect of the Department telegraphed for reinforcements, declaring that the strikers were masters of the situation. Alter vain appeals to the rioters and firing four times in the air, the troops fired a volley, which wounded several and killed two. Three of the wounded Succumbed. About twenty were injured in the satire charge. A bullet grazed a general's foot and another hit a colonel in flic shoulder. Stones and shots hurt twenty soldiers.

M. Clemencean (the Premier) • announced that a judicial inquiry will be held into the conduct of those guilty of rebellion against the forces of the State and the instigators of tilie trouble.