Trams Stoned, Electric Mains Cut by Tram Strikers The strike of tram fitters, mechanics, and carpenters in' the French Concession has " developed nto a campaign of sabotage and terrorism, Well-planned attacks have been made on trams and motor ears, and water and electricity mains have been cut with apparent imunity.
The Concession was in darkness on July 12 68 the result. of the interference with transformers in seven districts. The tram service was automatically suspended. Five water and electric mains were also Seven trams have been wholly partially destroyed since July 11, with attendant injury to passenger Motor cars are being stoned after dark by gangs of men who appear confident that they will not be aught.
Although confirmation of the re port is lacking, an Annamite police man is believed to have died as the result of injuries inflicted on hint by-the strikers on July 11, The French and Chinese police have 30 far failed to make any important arrests in connection with the disturbances.
At 8 a.m. on July 12 the manag ment ofthe French tramway ceived a request from the Greater Shanghai Bureau of Social Affairs asking that representatives be sent to a conference at 9.30 a.m. the ame day, at which the—stu would be present, The management refused to comply with this request on the ground that no useful purpose would be served.
At 3.15 pam. the same day about 400 of the strikers held a meeting at the Public Recreation Ground, 'West Gate, which was presided over' by one Chen Pu-ngai. In a speech, Mr, Hsu Yoi-fu, representing the Jocal Kuomintang, said that it had been decided to inform the management that no protection would be given to trams operating in Chinese territory, Any injury to passeng in such territory would, therefore, be the company's responsibility, he said. This speaker urged—those present to continue the strike and ured them that success was imminent, After a lot of discussion following resolutions were 'That further measures be' devised to attack all water mains, and cut off electricity in the Concession.
2, That all attacks on trams and mains be made as far as possible on July 13 and July 14, during the Bastille Day celebrations.
8. That the Kuomintang summon a meeting of newspapermen and order them to publish news favourable to the strikers.
4, That the Public Safety Bureau apologize to the strikers for posting eight policemen at the French Waterworks.
The meeting appointed four ro-presentatives to instruct the Public Safety Bureau to refuse to protect engineers of the tram company while repairing the mains damaged on July 11 and July 12, About three hours after the meeting the strikers attacked trams in Rue Vouitlement, Rue Kraetzer, Rue clu Marche, Rue de Montignys and Rue Brenier de Montmorand. "The ears were reduced to matchwood by a hail of concrete blocks and bricks and those of the pas sengers who had not fled at the first signs of trouble were rather badly injured. A driver who fell into the hands of the strikers was manhandled and is in a serious con dition, No arrests were made and further attacks are expected. The company is considering the advisability of withdrawing its cars from all but seven routes. What these routes will be remains to be seen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.