"BREAD OR DEATH"

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 92, 16 October 1934, Page 9

"BREAD OR DEATH"

UNDERGROUND STRIKE

HUNGARY MIXERS

FOUR DAYS WITHOUT FOOD

CANNOT LIVE ON WAGES

United Press Association—By Electric Tcleeraph—CopyrlehL (Received October 16, 1 p.m.) BUDAPEST, October 15.. "Unless our demands are granted, you can order a thousand red coffins," was the ultimatum the Pecs miners sent up in reply to Herr Gomboes's offer to mediate. "We shall not answer further messages, until we are assured of an 8 per cent, wage increase. We would rather die here of gas poisoning and starvation than slowly above ground because our wages are insufficient to buy bread." A deputation descended to persuade the miners to abandon the strike. They reported that after being four days without food some of the miners were lying motionless, while others were wandering slowly in the galleries, on the walls of which were written slogans such as "Bread or Death." The miners kept the deputation prisoners for two hours, and then manipulated the cage machinery to prevent furlher descents. The authorities have stationed Iroops with machine-guns at the pit" head to prevent the approach of frantic wives and relatives who are clamouring to descend and die with their husbands. They also dispei-sed 1200 Socialist miners, headed by a priest, who marched up • declaring their intention to join their comrades, who include many boys. The strike leaders refused to accept food and medicine which the authorities sent down the shaft.