TROOPS CALLED OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 11

TROOPS CALLED OUT

AMERICAN STRIKE RIOT

SEQUEL TO PITCHED BATTLE

FOOD SUPPLY CUT OFF

United Tress Association—liy Electric TclO'

Ki-iUili—Copyright.

NEW YORK, February 1,

At Flint 1200 National Guardsmen, including machine-gun detachments, were called out after a riot in which union members seized the Chevrolet plant, previously unaffected by. the stay-in motor strike, and engaged in a pitched battle with company police and non-union workers, resulting in injury to 24 men, four of whom were taken to hospital.

The guardsmen were called out by Mr; F. Murphy, State Governor, after the city and county authorities had appealed to him for aid stating that they were unable to cope with the situation.

Three company policemen were thrown over a high fence during the riot, which lasted an hour and a half and spread to several other General Motors 'plants. The union members were assisted by a group of 20 women wearing red berets and arm-bands and carrying clubs. The attack was directed through a loud-speaker mounted on a truck.

Meanwhile, Judge Gadola adjourned the hearing of an application for an injunction against the stay-in strikers till tomorrow.

Mr. Murphy said he was unwilling to declare martial law unless it wasabsolutely necessary.

The troops surrounded most of the plants in which there are strikes, mounted machine-guns on the surrounding hills, and announced that anybody would be permitted to leave but none to enter. This action automatically cut off the food supply pf the strikers, and hunger is certain to force them to leave if the troops' orders are unchanged. Small supplies of food are reported to bo stored in some plants, but not sufficient to last for many days. Mr. Murphy ordered the entire National Guard, totalling 4200, to be mobilised, and it is expected that at least 4000 will be on duly in Flint during the day.