FRENCH STRIKE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 53, 13 February 1934, Page 9

FRENCH STRIKE

NO SERIOUS INCIDENT I — Troops to Prevent Sabotage SUSPENSION OF SERVICES 1 By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright PARIS, Feb. 12. The one-day strike against Fascism started at midnight. Trade unionists have been picketing in- ! dustrial plants throughout tho I night. Troops have taken up posts at power stations and reservoirs to j prevent the possibility of sabotage. The early hours were not marked by serious incidents. The Confederation of Labour claims that to-day’s strike will be the most impressive ever seen in France. While factories, newspapers, postal services, tram and underground services and schools will be closed, railways, air ser vices, hotels, restaurants, cinemas, | water, gas, electricity and hospitals will all operate normally. I The “Daily Mail’s” Paris eorreI spondent was able to telephone London at 3 o’clock and reported that he had spoken to French cities, but telegraph services, including the London-Paris lines, are seriously affected. Night operators ceased work and adjourned to neighbouring cafes, where they animatedly discussed the day’s possibilities. Wireless services are not operating. Troops will operate the telephones today for official calls only. The newspaper “Humanite” published after midnight a special edition urging workers to form strike pickets and assemble at 3 o'clock at Vincennes. Milk and bread supplies are proceeding normally. The only disorderly provincial | demonstration yesterday was in I Boulogne, where the police were com- ! pellod to charge a Communist procesI sion, injuring many. Orderly anti-Fascist processions were \ held on Sunday at Lyons, Marseilles, I Lille, Metz, Nancy, Bordeaux, Rouen. I Toulon, Rheims and many smaller towns. The Government stationed strong forces of police and troops to prevent disturbances. Later: Paris to-day lacks most of its characteristic feature of the bustle of traffic and hooting of taxis, which have been replaced by the clatter of thousands of clerks, typists and midin. ottes walking to work. Many factories are carrying on despite the persuasion of pickets, whom lorry-loads of police are keeping in order. Although obviously the authorities are avoiding a display of force, troops are kept in barranks or hidden in the courtyard or public offices of the Bank i of Franco and other buildings i A thick fog added to the embarrass- | ments of restricted bus services, while i the underground railway only runs | half-hourly, with clerks acting as conductors under police protection. Letters and telegrams are not being delivered. Theatres are closed and cinemas stop projecting at intervals to indicate their approval of strike action. “La Francaise” is the only newspaper printed. The Socialists and Communists are watching events. It is believed that if they feel the workers are with them they may later start disturbances. It is expected that 20,000 will attend the Vincennes demonstration. Marseilles is completely at a stand-