1.
LV SIGNPOST MERLEBACH PAN MINE ENTRANCE.
0.03

2.
SV DITTO
0.08

3.
LV IDLE MINEHEAD (3 SHOTS).
0.21

4.
CU SIGN: MORSBACH - FORBACH.
0.23

5.
SV PEOPLE LEAVE BUILDING.
0.28

6.
CU MINER READS PAPER.
0.31

7.
CU NEWSPAPER HEADLINES.
0.35

8.
SV PEOPLE TALKING (3 SHOTS).
0.45

9.
CU SIGN "ANZIN".
0.46

10.
GV CROWD (2 SHOTS)
0.52

11.
SVU MAYOR PREPARE FOR MARCH.
0.56

12.
SV START OF MARCH
1.02

13.
SV ONLOOKERS.
1.04

14.
LV PROCESSION.
1.08

15.
SV WOMEN IN PROCESSION.
1.11

16.
SV MAYOR IN PROCESSION.
1.16

17.
SV MINERS IN PROCESSION.
1.23

18.
GV PROCESSION.
1.27



Initials DR/S/WH/ES DR/S/WH/LW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MINERS TOOK UP BANNERS AND PLACARDS AND MARCHED THROUGH THE FRENCH COALFIELDS ON SATURDAY AFTER THEIR UNION LEADERS UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED A "RETURN TO WORK" APPEAL FROM M. GEORGES POMPIDOU, THE PRIME MINISTER.

WITH THE STRIKE NINE DAYS OLD, THE MINES IN THE NORTHERN FIELDS AND IN THE LORRAINE AREA ARE STANDING IDLE, WHILE THE MINERS ARE UNITED IN THEIR DEMANDS FOR AN ELEVEN PER CENT INCREASE IN WAGES.

AT VALENCIENNES IN NORTHERN FRANCE, MINERS GATHERED ON SATURDAY FOR A PROTEST MARCH. MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND MINERS TOOK PART. EXTRA POLICE WERE ON DUTY, BUT THERE WERE NO DISTURBANCES.

LEADING THE PROCESSION WERE THE MAYORS FROM EIGHT TOWNS IN THE AREA. AS THE LONG COLUMN OF MEN MOVED OFF, SIRENS AT THE EMPTY MINES SOUNDED. AS THE MEN MARCHED THEY SHOUTED "NO MONEY - NO COAL".

IN THE LORRAINE AREA, THERE WERE ALSO PROTEST MEETINGS AND SMALLER MARCHES. HERE THE MEN ARE DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE UNCONDITIONAL RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRADE UNIONS.