Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1886 — FACING 62,000 SOLDIERS. [ARTICLE]

FACING 62,000 SOLDIERS.

Siriken* in the Little Kingdom of Belgium Confronted by All the Na- ' ' tionls Military. -- ' Deadly Encounters Between Mobs and , Soldieiy—lmmense Destruction of Property. [Cabledispatch from Brusaels.] Three hundred strikers made an attack on the Mariemont colliery at Mobs, and were fired upon by troops. The number of killed and wounded is fourteen. The entire reserve force has been out. With these additional troops the army will number 62,000 men. The strikers stopped work at the Resaix collieries to-day. They Were thrice ordered to disperse, but refused to do so, and began to throw stones at the froops. The latter fired upon the rioters, killing and wounding seventeen. The miners at Antoing, three miles southeast' of Tournav, struck to-day and .went rioting. They formed into a body and marched toward Tournay for the purpose of looting the place. Troops sallied out from that place to meet them, and a ‘•onflict followed, in which many persons were wounded. The sti ikes are spreading hl the coalmining districts of Fltnn and Borinage and the authorities there fear trouble. The miners in the latter district receive but $3 a week. They have destroyed the residence of the mine manager by dyuamite. In these districts there have already been several conflicts between the strikers and the troops and many have been killed on both sides. Re-enforcements have been sent to the. scene from Mons. In a fresh titrht between the rioters and infantry at Carnieres two persons were killed and many wounded. The Socialists are greatly enraged because of the energetic action of the military in suppressing disturbances. As an act of r.-venge they threaten to raid the extensive cloth-works, which are a conspicuous feature of that town. Lareoj’er, the leader of the Socialists, has been arrested . It tos been’ proved that the ’ riots were not due to political causes. Of the 160 persons arrested here in connection with the disturbances one-half are old convicts of the worst kind. At a meeting of the Cabinet it-was decided that the Premier should- explain the situation to the Chamber of Deputies. A Government Inspector is examining the depots for dynamite in the Charleroi district. Rioters attacked and burned a pottery manufactory at Bandour, near Mons. They succeeded in resisting the gendarmes, who, however, shot and killed three of the rioters, The citizens of Fleurcs, seven miles northeast of Charleroi, have armed themselves with pitchforks, clubs, and guns, and have thus far- succeeded in defending their town from pillage. They drove-one - army of rioters away by main force, dispersing it utterly. Vigilance committees are being formed by the citizens in other places threatened by the strikers. The workmen in the cloth factories at Vervieis have joined the strike. Charleroi is a vast military camp from which flying columns are operating in all directions. It is believed now that the worsf is over. The Government has authorized the peaceable inhabitants of the city to arm themselves and use every means in their power to defend their domiciles. There is a more confident feeling. The ciplian patrols and the troops are overmastering the rioters. . One hundred arrests- have- been made, among them several Anarchist leaders. The burials of the rioters who were shot by troops are proceeding quietly at Verviers.

Several French newspapers accuse Prince Bisnjarck of having incited the riots in Belgium and warn Belgium to beware of him. The Belgian Republican League of Paris has called a meeting of the Belgian workingmen of Fiance to assist their brethren in Belgium. ?