DEMONSTRATORS ERECTING BARRICADES; MOUNTED POLICE MOVE IN; SMOKE BOMBS THROWN; ARMED TROOPS PATROLLING STREETS.




Initials PS/V/AS/ES



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Background: DISTURBANCES BROKE OUT NEAR MONTEVIDEO ON MONDAY AS STRIKING MEAT-PACKERS CLASHED WITH POLICE IN THE WORKING-CLASS DISTRICT OF EL CARRO.

GANGS OF STRIKERS, WHO HAVE BEEN OFF WORK FOR OVER A MONTH, TOOK TO THE STREETS IN THE AFTERNOON AND SET UP BARRICADES, DEFENDING THEMSELVES WITH STONES AGAINST MOUNTED POLICEMEN.

THE WORKERS ARE REPORTED TO HAVE OCCUPIED A CHURCH FOR SEVERAL HOURS, RINGING THE BELLS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR CAUSE. THEY ALSO CUT TROLLEYBUS POWER CABLES.

GUN SHOTS WERE HEARD IN THE DISTRICT, BUT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT INJURIES AMONG THE WORKERS. POLICE SAID THREE OF THEIR OFFICERS HAD BEEN HURT BY STONES.

SOME 10,000 WORKERS ARE STRIKING AGAINST A GOVERNMENT DECISION TO REPLACE A DAILY RATION OF TWO KILOGRAMS (FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS) OF MEAT FOR AN INCREASE IN SALARY, WHICH THEY REGARD AS INADEQUATE.

WHILE THE RIOTS TOOK PLACE, MEAT PACKAGERS FROM THE CITIES PAYSANDU AND FRAY BENTOS CONTINUED THEIR PROTEST MARCH TOWARDS THE CAPITAL.