RAIL SERVICES CURTAILED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 5

RAIL SERVICES CURTAILED

U.S. GOVERNMENT’S ORDER WASHINGTON, May 3. The threat of a nation-wide railroad strike in the United States came from a new quarter to-day when three operating brotherhoods, representing the conductors, switchmen, firemen, and engineers, submitted new wage increase demands of 120 cents a day in addition to the 128 cents rise which the Arbitration Board granted last month. A joint statement by the brotherhoods said that unless these demands were met a strike vote would be taken among the union rank and file and the strike would actually occur. The stater ment described the increase awarded as wholly inadequate. Meanwhile, the Government has ordered a further drastic cut in the railway passenger service to conserve the rapidly diminishing coal reserves. Supplementing previous orders sharply curtailing freight and passenger traffic by May 10, the Director of Transportation has ordered all coal-burning railways to reduce their passenger services by half by May 15. DAKOTA CRASHES IN INDIA SUSPENSION OF AIR SERVICES ~, , LONDON, May 2. Twelve persons were killed when a Dakota aircraft carrying military men on an air dispatch training course crashed near Rawalpindi. The victims were two British officers, two members of the Royal .Air Force, seven Indian officers, and one sepoy. “All Dakota-operated civilian air services in India have been officially suspended following the crash,’” says the Calcutta correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Engine trouble in Dakotas has been frequent lately and experts 'are at present carrying out examinations.