THE FRENCH STRIKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14325, 15 October 1910, Page 5

THE FRENCH STRIKE.

AN "ACT OF REBELLION,'* RE-VICTUALLING PARIS. Press Association—Bv Tel.—Copyright. PARIS, Oct. 13. M. Briand, the Premier, addressing the journalists, said that the ringleaders had committed an act of rebellion. Wherever the rank and file of the strikers were there was no control exercised, and the act was criminal. Violence had occurred, and these things had been done at a moment when the demands made by the men were being favourably considered, including the making of the pension retrospective. The preconcerted scheme of ilia lingleaders was criminal. RING-LEADERS ARRESTED. The general secretary of railwaymen and two others have been arrested and voluminous correspondence has been seized. Five strike leaders, including Taffin, the president of the Drivers and Firemen's Federation, were arrested quietly. Twenty more arrests are expected. The Raihvaymen's Strike Committee have offered to meet the Premier and companies to discuss the situation. THE OUTSIDE WORLD. LONDON, Oct. 13. Motor firms are organising a cheap and effective service from London to Paris. There is every prospect of passengers by t-ho Mongolia getting tlirough to London. The London mails have successfully run the gauntlet. The Australian mails will be taken by the same route. Passengers for steamers leaving Marseilles are reaching their destination via Calais. "■ Owing to the strike seventeen trains are at a standstill at Poissy. FEEDING PARIS. A plan elaborated some time ago to re-victual Paris by water, is now being adopted. ARREST OF RINGLEADERS. A SURPRISE FOR THEM. Received 9.10 p.m., Oct. 14th. PARIS, Oct. 14. The ringleaders were arrested at the office of the Socialist organ " Humanite," where they foregathered, in the presence of M. Jaures, M. Vaillant and the stall' of the Anarchist journal " La Guerre Sociale," and amidst revolutionary surroundings. The arrest is regarded as fully confirming M. Briand's view of the strike, that it is political and revolutionary rather than professional.

The " Times " Paris correspondent states that up to the last the professional agitators appear to have imagined that the authorities would not dare to invade the sacred precincts of the Socialists' journal, and the union leaders defied arrest by pretending to invite it. They passed the night at the " Humanite " office. Some talked, others played cards, some slept, and those keeping vigil fortified themselves with champagne. THE MOBILISATION ORDER. The strike committee voted the mobilisation order illegal, since in peace time a man is entitled to a fortnight's grace before responding. The men rejoined that they will not obey the order. It is stated that the Government can, if necessary, summon to the colours the time-expired two-years-ser-vice men who were discharged last month. A workman at Versailles was sentenced to half a year for endeavouring to induce a soldier to desert his post.

Received 10.25 p.m.. Oct, 14th. MORE ARRESTS. Messrs Merle, Almey and Reida, editors of "Le Guerre Sociale," have been arrested. The st.riko committee's letter to M Bnand emanated from the committee's secretary before his arrest. THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. M. Briand, interviewed bv "Le Temps," said the Government was always open to any railway men's conciliatory proposals tending to an amicable settlement. the directors intimated that thev were willing to discuss the claims of the staff through M. Briand. The services on the Eastern, Orleans, and Paris-Lyons lines are now almost normal, and one-third of the Northern trains have been restored. SOME ELECmiCIANS OUT. _ The electricians' strike is onlv partial The Elysee, Latin, Santa Lazare and several other quarters are without electric light, and restaurants and shops used candles. A gas engineer corps has occupied the electric and hydraulic power stations. TROOPS AS POLICE. The garrisons have been considerably reinforced i„ both infantry and cavalry. Two battalions of infantry have reinforced the police at Lyons. Hie tramway men in Eastern Paris have struck. tl^p" 1^ 11130 * 111163 Were in dtmfged m,andah ° USeWasba^ THE MOBILISATION. s n rvl;V- ra! .r V "! ment in the Northern service is due to the mobilisation order. The mob.hsed men wear a white armband. Seating that they are reserOne Hundred and fifty thousand railnßTo n ur b Tr orderedt v i,obiiise disobedie^a^^— aUef ° r