FRENCH WINE RIOTS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 105, 18 April 1911, Page 1

FRENCH WINE RIOTS.

FURTHER DAMAGE REPORTED 2t»,WO TROOPS EMPLOYED. [PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPY EIGHT]. Paris, April 16. The vinegrowers at Trepail bar-> ricaded the village and pillaged the . residence of a wine merchant. | The soldiers demolished the bar- r ricades and, being ordered to stop ; the devastation, charged with | swords. | Fifty acres of vines belonging to: Moet and Chandon were uprooted at Vernegay. Fifty arrests have been made in the disturbed area. j There is general calm in the wine j growing districts, except at Fon- ! taine-sur-Ay, where the forest was set afire. Ball cartridges were served to I 90,000 troops in the Epernay district, and a cordon was drawn around Ay. The troops were ordered to buttend trespassers. Several of the rioters are in the hospital. Stables and schools were converted into barracks. WHOLESALE RESIGNATIONS. ADMINISTRATION AT A STANDSTILL. (Received 18, 9.90 a.m.) Paris, April 17. There have been wholesale resignations in the municipalities in the Aube district. Administration is at a standstill and urgent official correspondence remains unopened. Deaths and births are unregistered and marriages not celebrated. REBELLIOUS ISLANDERS. PILLAGING WHITE SETTLERS. SOME HOT ENGAGEMENTS. Sydney, April 17. A French steamer brings news of troubles in the northern part of the Island of Santo, New Hebrides. Sixty armed natives led by two rebellious chiefs, Zingourou and Neil, made ' depredations on the white settlers, placing their lives in jeopardy. A force of twenty police and a number of kanakas led by an Englishman named Thomas were sent to the scene and made a night attack on the rebels’ stronghold. After a hot engagement the rebels were routed and fled to the bush. Three of their number were killed and others wounded were removed. Thomas received two bullets in the chest, but it is expected that he will recover. Two natives attached to the attacking force were fatally wounded. The expedition destroyed the rebles* villages, plantations and pigs. Another expedition is being organised for the capture of the chiefs responsible for the trouble.

THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION. DESERTED BY AUXILIARIES. (Received 18, 9.55 a.m.) ’ Sydney. April 18. Details of the attack on the rebellious chiefs’ stronghold in the Island of Santo by the punitive fcicc which consisted of English. French and native police, under white leaders and a number of native auxiliaries. are to hand. The stronghc'o was reached after a tedious march through dense bush. When the attack commenced, most of the auxiliaries deserter!, some joining .if rebels. On the return journey the party was ambushed and fired on. but managed to beat off the attack.

Later reports indicate that though Thomas and two or three other members of the punitive party were wounded, none were killed.