DERAILMENT OF U.S. TRAIN

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 11

DERAILMENT OF U.S. TRAIN

Strike Violence Wave In South (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 16. A sabotage investigation was ordered today into the derailment of a passenger train, as a wave of strike violence swept the southern United States. Nine coaches of the strike-crippled Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad’s Dixie Flyer ran off the tracks near Nashville, Tennessee, last night. No-one aboard the train was injured. , , “This is definitely sabotage and there is no doubt about it,” said Mr Fred Whittmore, general superintendent of the railway. ••Joints were removed from the track? Angle bars and other track appliances were found adjacent to the track on the right-of-way.” Mr Frank Clement, Governor of Tennessee, ordered State authorities to bring an investigation into the derailment. It was announced last night that 4000 train crew members would join in the strike of 25,000 office workers against the Louisville and Nashville Railroad on Monday. The labour trouble has arisen over health and welfare benefits.

More damage was reported in the nine-State strike of the Southern Bell Telephone Company. Officials of the company said cables between Atlanta (Georgia) and Birmingham (Alabama), Atlanta and Rome (Georgia), and Key West (Florida) and Havana (Cuba), had been cut. The strike has been punctuated by violence.

German Plane Lands in London.— The first German aircraft to land legally in Britain since 1939 touched down at the London Airport today. The aeroplane, a Convair, was on a familiarisation flight for Lufthansa, the reborn German civil airline, which will soon start a European service.— London, April 15.