THE FRENCH STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 160, 15 October 1910, Page 5

THE FRENCH STRIKE.

fIRRRKT t)V STRIKE LEADERS. AS ACT OF REBELLION. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Paris, October 13. iFive strike leaders, including Taffin, president of the Drivers' and Firemen's Federation, have been arrested quietly, end twenty more arrests are expected. Owing to the strike seventeen trains are at a standstill at Poissy. M. Briand (Premier), addressing journalists, said that the ringleaders had committed an act of rebellion. Wherever the rank and file of the strikers were, there no control was exercised, and acts of criminal violence occurred. These things were done at a moment when the demands made by the men were being favorably considered, including the making of pensions retrospective. The preconcerted scheme of the ringleaders was criminal. The railwaymen's strike committee have offered to meet the Premier and the companies to discuss the situation. The general secretary ,of the railwaymen and two others have been arrested. Voluminous correspondence was seized. A plan elaborated some time ago to re victual Paris by water is now being adopted. London, October 13. There is every prospect of the passengers by the Mongolia getting through to London. London mails have successfully run the gauntlet. Australian mails are going via Ostend to Brindisi, and homeward mails will-he taken by the same route. Passengers for the steamers leaving Marseilles are reaching their destination via Calais. * Motor firms are organising a cheap and effective service from London to Paris. HOW THE LEADERS WERE ARRESTED. THE STRIKERS' MANIFESTO. Received 14, 9.10 p.m. Paris, October 14. The ringleaders were arrested at the office of the Socialist organ, "Humanite," where they had foregathered in the presence of M. Janres»and M. Vaillant and the staff of the anarchist journal, "Guerre Sociale," amidst revolutionary surroundings. The arrests are regarded as fully confirming M. Briand's new strike policy. London, October 14. The Times' Paris correspondent states that up to the last professional agitators appeared to imagine" that the authorities would not dare to invade the sacred precincts of the Socialist journal. The Union leaders defied the arrest by pretending to invite it. They passed the night at the "Humanite" opce. Some talked and others played cards, while some slept. Those keeping vigil fortified themselves with champagne. The strike committee's manifesto stated that the mobilisation order was illegal since in peace time a man was entitled to a fortnights grace before responding. The men rejoined that they would not obey and stated that the Government can if necessary summon to the colors the time-expired two-years' service men discharged last month. A workman at Versailles was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for endeavoring to induce a soldier to desert his post. „

SOCIALIST EDITORS ARRESTED. THE GOVERNMENTS ATTITUDE. SOME OF THE LINES ALMOST NORMAL. IMPROVEMENT DUE TO MOBILISATION. GARRISONS STRENGTHENED. Received 14, 1055 pjn. Paris, October 14. Merle, Almey and Reida, editors of the "Guerre Sociale," were also arrested. The strike committee's letter to M. Briand (the Premier) emanated from the committee's secretary before his arrest. M. Briand, interviewed by Le Temps, said the Government was always open to consider any railwaymen's conciliatory proposals tending to amicable settlement. Subsequently the railway directors intimated their willingness to discuss the claims of the staff through M. Briand's services. Conditions on the Eastern Orleans and Paris-Lyons lines are now almost normal. One-third of the service on the northern line has been restored. The electricians' strike is but partial. The Elysee, Latin, Sainta. Lazare and several other quarters are without electric light. The restaurants and shops are using candles and gas. The engineer corps occupied the electric and hydraulic power stations. The garrisons have been considerably reinforced by infantry and cavalry. The tramwaymen in Eastern Paris have struck. Two battalions of infantry have reinforced the police at the Elysee. An infernal machine exploded in the I Rue Berri. A house was Iwdly damaged. The improvement in the northern ser- [ vice is due to mobilisation. The mobilised men wear a white arm band indicating that they are reservists. One hundred and fifty thousand railwaymen have been ordered to mobilise within 48 hours. They will be punishable for disobedience after a fortnight. Received October 15, 12.30 a.m. Paris, Otcober 14. A warrant has been issued for Pataud's arrest for engineering the electricians to strike.