ANTI-NAZI ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1941, Page 3

ANTI-NAZI ACTION

GREAT STRIKE OF MINERS IN FRANCE

BROKEN WITH DIFFICULTY.

MORE PLUNDER IN NORWAY.

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 15.

A special correspondent of “The Times” says that a significant document which was drawn up by a high Vichy official who was sent to report on strikes in the coalmines in the Nord and Pas de Calais has reached General de Gaulle's headquarters. The document for the first time admits that strikes were more widespread than was generally known. Ninetyfive per cent of the 90,000 miners were idle for nearly a fortnight. . The strike was broken only when the Germans resorted to the arrest of 2000 of the men.

The Vichyite official reported that the strikes were directed against the Germans, for whose armament industries the mines have been working exclusively, and also against Vichy for having handed over the mines to Germans. The miners became indifferent to theii' fate. The strikes are partly attributed to the scarcity of food, which has grown steadily worse. The Norwegian Telegraph Agency reports that after confiscating blankets from the Norwegians the Germans are now taking their skis and ski-boots. Compulsory collection has been started at Lillehammer, and it is expected soon to extend elsewhere. The Norwegian ski factories have received an order for 100,000 pairs of skis. The Prague correspondent of the British United Press says that eight more persons were executed in Prague and Brno today, including a policeman in Prague for listening to foreign broadcasts.