FAILURE OF COMMUNISTS IN GENERAL STRIKE AT ITALIAN CAPITAL

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1949, Page 5

FAILURE OF COMMUNISTS IN GENERAL STRIKE AT ITALIAN CAPITAL

ROME,' Feb. 19 The Communist-dominated Chamber of Labour to-day called a general strike in Rome as a protest against police action against workers at Isola del Liri, near Frosinone, last night, states the correspondent of tlie British United Press. The strike, however, ended before most people knew it had begun. It was due to start at 4 p.m., and be followed by a monster protest demonstration an hour later. The strike leaders complained that they did not have time to distribute strike notices. Tanks and armoured cars were called out during a battle between the police and 2000 strikers who marched on a paper mill. The mill was protected by a small force of armed police wlio opened fire when the workers tried to storm the plant. The Ministry of Interior said that the trouble began with the announcement that fifty workers were to be dismissed at the mill. The workers threw a barricade around the mill and most of the 10,000 inhabitants of Isola del Liri flocked into the streets, many of them supporting the strikers. Police reinforcements with tanks were used to crush the barricades and the workers inside the mill hurled stones, steel bars, and improvised tear gas bombs at the police. When the police broke through the road blocks and advanced on the mill itself, shots were fired from the factorv. The nolice replied with shots fired into the air but when the rioters continued to attack the police returned their fire. Thirty people are reported to have been injured. Fourteen people were arrested on charges of inciting the riots. One of them is the secretary of the local Chamber of Labour. Another Strike Called Suddenly (Rec 11.10) ROME, Feb. 21 Italians will walk to their offices and factories to-day because there is a general strike affecting all transport, except State-owned railways. It was called at midnight. The strike was called after a violent clash between workers at. a paper mil Inear Rome with police, in which twenty-three police and three workers were injured.