FRENCH WINE RIOTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 104, 15 April 1911, Page 1

FRENCH WINE RIOTS.

Paris, April 13. The possibißty of the principle of the deibmtatton of the real champagne area 'being abandoned has provobed a 'grave situation in the Marne, where the wine growers fearing £he loss of a privileged monopoly *bave risen as one man in th** 1 * fury which is directed against £be Epernay firms, who/Mre accused of importing gmpes from beyond fihe delimited area for champagne making, or wine fromthe Aube -district for the purpose of with products of the Marne. Private equally wifli business houses were burned, and the des-* tructaon would have been greater had not ithe straw used to ignite them been saturated with spirits of wine. The leaders repressed any occmnomfl attempt at jpillage. Preeoneerted plans were followed with fibe swiftness df a cyclone. The leaders of the various band* of iretem showed an intimate acwith the different dis-, trieta, and ruthlessly destroyed, besides wine and plant, account books anfi furniture, While straw wrappings protecting cthe vine* from frost were set on ffire. The fuqp of the riot was directed he**""*- Ay and Epernay firms. The tocsin, was sounded from all stcci pirn "The explosion of hand grenades roused the villagers quickly, and these swarmed down the ; vine-elad slopes, evading the military cordons.

THE CAVALRY POWERLESS. Sone 4000 rioters entered Ay, where the cavalry were pinned between stone walls and subjected to volleys of atones and vineyard stakes from the barricades. The military officers were ordered to act with extreme rigour, but with the utmost prudence. Squadrons of reinforcements advancing to Ay hurriedly retreated to Epernay on the report that 90,000 wine-growers were marching thither, but were unable to intercept these. In the meantime several establishments were sacked Encounters between the mob and the military were frequent. Rioters dinging to their bridles and stirrups compelled the dragoons to resort to their sabres. Numbers were injured in the affrays. The rioters were dispersed at night, only after looting the premises of Daenras and Rondeau, at Epernay, where 311 casks of wine were broken, the mob wading in champagne. The premises of Kupdermann and Ryala at Ay were set nfirp, also the warehouses of Deutz and Geldermann and Gallors. A BOMB. A bomb burst in the streets of Ay, wounding three soldiers, one grievously. The Mayor’s residence was in flames. Companies of infantry stationed at both towns were constantly on the alert. During the night incendiary fires illumined the sky. Huge fires occurred at Pierry and elsewhere in the wine-growing districts. The chateau of Montebelle is blazing. A series of fires occurred in the vicinity of Mareuil-sur-Ai. The fire brigades of Avendry i and Ay made desperate efforts to extinguish the fires, but were compelled to retreat, the mob threatening to destroy their engines. The troops saved the premises of Convasure from incendiarism. The troops were hampered in their efforts by heaps of broken bottles. 1 poles ai\d paving stones thrown into the streets during the progress of the riots. The senators and deputies representing the department of the Marne telegraphed to the Winegrowers’ Federation at Epernay, urging them to exercise a restraining influence and avoid irreparable, calamities. i

TERRIBLE SCENES OF PILLAGE. WADING IN CHAMPAGNE. TROOPS INEFFECTIVE. (J®R UNITED PMESB ASSOCIATION COPYRIOHr)-

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED.

fllie Premier in the Chamber of Deputies demanded and obtained an overwhelming majority in favour of a reaohrtton of confidence, pledging the Government to restore order and pursue iinperturbably the settlement of the differences arising from the Delimitation; ef the champagne area, "finally appealing to the season and good sense of the population concerned. A large area«ef vines was burned. .Further cases ief sabotage occurred in Vinay and VenteuiL The telegraphs were cut -and aemolvers discharged at the dragawn patrokwithout serious results.

In all troops reached Epernay. The newspapers <comment on the ludicrous consequence* .of the 1 French Government’s decision, and; fear that the Aiibe agitation mqy result in a meae dangerous situation in Marne and the .Ardennes, where previously there were general rejoiemgs .over the Aube’s discomfiture. The price of champagne is rising. -5,000,000 BOTTLES SMASHED. Paris, April 14. A total of bottles of wine were smashed at Ay, and 500 <easks at Vinay. Twenty-four men were arrested, including one of iSae ringleaders at Ay. Stolen bronaes, picftwes and clocks were seised m some of the prisoners’ domiciles. The rioters at Venteull burned their own barricade* when the cuirassiers appeared. The vinedressers there met and approved the acts of violence committed. They claimed collective responsibility. I The whole of the Rheims and < Epernay districts are now regarded; as under military control. | DEPUTIES AND WINEGROW-; EES CONFER. i » (Received 15, 8.10 a.m.) I Paris. April 14. I

The Senators and Deputies of the Marne Department conferred with the Winegrowers Federation. The latter then issued a manifesto attributing the worst incidents to anarchists, also to the incitations of a cyclist falsely representing himself to bo an emissary of the Federation. The committee’s manifesto ap-j peals to the vine dressers to await: a coming solution. THE SMALL GROWERS. It is understood the vines arei considerably affected by blight, foreshadowing a poor vintage year. The smaller winegrowers of Marne, _ suffering from a series of bad har-! vests, have their estates heavily, mortgaged and sell their products, to big firms enjoying a reputation’ for genuine Marne Champagne.' hence they are of one mind with thet latter and the cellarmen supporting; the delimitation area, and are vio-, lently protesting against abrogation or remission under present conditions. 1 TIMES’” COMMENT. The “Times’” Paris correspondent states that the oenate, under pressure from Aube. declared against all delimitation. The Chamber. under impulsion of the Marne rioters. supports Government, which is inclined to yield to the greatest and most recent pressure. The seriousness of tne situation lies in the fact that large sections of the masses are convinced that the proper way to influence public opinion, Parliament and the Government, is to indulge in violence. The partisans! of sabotage scarcely fear the arm of I

’ the law or the military and are, con- •, fident that M. Jaures’ firmness will ! keep the action of both., within bounds. The question is, how long \ Frenchmen will gu about their business on these terms in the horror of increasing Pos- ; sibly some day it will exceed ;the present in widespread horror of, reaction. . . / TROOPS TOO LATE ,V The 20,000 troops ' bccdpying Marne mobilised 48 hour 6 too Igte. The winegrowers losses reach £250.- ' 000. ‘ s ’ I The authorities have 'enjtffihed restoration of order at all costs. FURTHER ARREST^'J | AEROPLANES AT WK. J . ■ ... .. . - , -I (Received 15. 1 ipihri'.) -i Paris, April 14. Military’ aeroplanes reconnoitred in the disturbed wine districts. There have been "further hriests| for damage and pillage. : Inquiry' shnwe bhat ! besides the brands genuinely produced m the Mai ne districts, sold wi-ies manufactured from grapes from di‘-«-ar.t regions. They are heavy sufferers by the promjseuoufe destruction. ;