BELGIUM’S TURN

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 223, 17 June 1936, Page 11

BELGIUM’S TURN

Strikes Spreading Through Country

SEVERAL CLASHES

Gendarmes Charge With

Drawn Sabres

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Brussels, June 15,

The newspaper “L’lndepeudence Beige” estimates that the strikers number 170.000.

At Liege mounted gendarmes charged 500 strikers with drawn sabres after strikers singing the “Internationale” had twice attempted to storm a bazaar under the leadership of a giant Communist deputy named Lahaut in order to prevent shopgirls working. A clash occurred at St. Walburge, where the commissioner of police and a gendarme were knocked down and trampled upon. Strikers attempted to stop trains at Rocourt. Shots were fired and three police were wounded. The strike has extended to the metal, lurgical works in the province of Halnault. A Committee of Public Order under the presidency of the Premier, M. Van Zeeland, has been constituted to deal with the strikes, which are rapidly extending. The coal strike, which involves 110,000 workers, has become general. Strikers stopped trams running to uiege. RAPID IMPROVEMENT French Strikes Almost Over London, June 15. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” states that stay-in strikes have virtually ended. The insurance clerks are expected to resume to-morrow. A majority of the department stores are still occupied, but the end Is believed to be in sight The position In the provinces is improving with equal rapidity.

Four thousand dockers and watermen are still idle at Paris, and those at Bordeaux and Dunkirk have not resumed.