BIG STRIKE IN PARIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 158, 13 October 1910, Page 5

BIG STRIKE IN PARIS.

RAILWAYMEX GO OUT. PARIS ISOLATED. CALLING OX THE MILITARY. By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright Paris, October 11. A meeting of raihvayiiien in Paris resolved to strike throughout the northern system to-day for a general increase of wages and a weekly day of rest and not to respond to any mobilisation order. Troops have occupied the terminus in Paris. Fifty thousand men are affected. The strike has isolated PaTis. The Post Office has established a motor service to Calais. English passengers are held up at Calais and Boulogne. The Premier and Minister of Telegraphs state that the strike is more political and revolutionary than professional. The Government is publishing a decree organising the railways on a military basis and giving the Government power to mobilise for twenty days railwayman liable for service. If necessary, they will employ naval engineers and stokers. Measures will be taken to ensure that the postal services shall be carried on and Paris provisioned on a normal scale.

The strikers cut the . telegraph and telephone wires connecting Paris with the provinces, and obstructed the line at Tegnier with locomotives. Eight thousand State railwaymen in Western France voted for a general strike on the railway system.

STRIKERS USING FIREARMS. NON-STRIKERS intimidated. PROMINENT AGITATORS DISMISSED. ■ STRIKERS CALLED UPON FOR MILITAKY DUTY. DEGREE CONSIDERED ILLEGAL. Received 12, 9.25 p.m. Paris, October 12. According to the Northern Railway Company, the majority of the platform and station hands remain on duty. Strikers are firing revolvers and stoning them with a view of forcing them to join in the 6trike. The Tegnier station, the centre of the strike, has been closed. Several drivers refuse to go thither, fearing to be murdered by the strikers. The company aTe dismissing prominent agitators, including Taffin, the president of the Drivers' and Firemen's Federation. A concession of a minimum wage of five francs per day has been applied for in the Paris area. The men also demand the extension of this wage to the provinces. They complain that the pensions voted for Parliament have not been made retrospective. Automobiles are plying for hire between Paris to Calais and Paris to Boulogne, the fare demanded being a hundred francs. Public opinion in Paris is hostile to the strike. A decree has been gazetted summoning to military servies in twenty-one days 1369 higher officials and 27,680 minor employees. The Northern Railway Co.'s men contend the decree is illegal, holding that the Sinos law provides foT mobilisation of railwaymen exclusively for transport of troops and war material. The strike committee of the Railwaymen's National Union resolved in favor of a general strike on all the French railways. British railwaymen have sent a mes; sage of sympathy to the men of North-; era France.

A FIGHT TO A FINISH. THE STRIKE EXTENDING. UNREST ON OTHER LINES. Received 12. 10.20 p.m. Paris, October 12. Thousands of strikers at Lille, Arras, Laon and other stations have resolved to fight to th? bitter end. It is reported that the strike is extending to Eastern France. Great unrest prevails on the Paris-Lyons-Mediterranean line.