question about what a modifier refers back to

[edmont]

Es brach in den nächsten spannungsvollen Jahren bei Waldorf-Astoria auch kein Streik aus.

I'm tempted to translate the above sentence with two different meanings, and I wonder if there is a rule by which I can tell which way is correct?

In the first version, the tense years could be something happening in the world, not necessarily at the Waldorf-Astoria:  
1. In the next tense years, no strikes broke out at the Waldorf-Astoria

In the second version, the tense years seem to be within the Waldorf-Astoria itself.
2. No strikes broke out in the next tense years at the Waldorf-Astoria.


Is there some rule I can use to know the answer to this question?

Thank you very much for any assistance.

[tiorthan]

I'm tempted to say that the second version is meant here.

There isn't really a hard and fast rule. Normally this kind of ambiguity is resolved using the context or shared knowledge between author and audience. In this case, I don't know the text and the topic, my guess is based on the way this has been phrased. Normally I'd expect the phrase "in den nächsten spannungsvollen Jahren" to be at the beginning of the sentence, so moving it closer to "bei Waldorf-Astoria" may indicate a connection.

[edmont]

tiorthan, thank you, the help is much appreciated.