TOPICS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12470, 22 February 1909, Page 4

TOPICS.

STUDENTS' RIOTS. Recently the medical students in ?aris certainly behaved in an extra>rdinary way. The authorities instimted another examination, which ; alihough optional, was strongly objectid to by the students as having for ts purpose the creation of an aristocracy in the profession, whereby all ;he best positions would be reserved w those who had passed the extra legree. The profession, it seems, #is )vercrowded, and a fresh eliminating process is required. The students jushed their objections to the point )f causing serious disturbances in and iround the School of Medicine for the. ;reater part of- the week. The buildngs were invaded, and the police that ;ame to the rescue were overpowered. Chen, for the first time in forty years iroops had to be summoned. Therctfter, in the language of one correspondent the fighting became- glorious. Policemen were Knocked down and had sheir sword bayonets torn from them, rhey retaliated as only Paris policemen in a temper know, and student after student bit the earth. Several if ter having been knocked about, had bo be carried off by .the self -same policemen who had fought them and taken to the hospital with their heads svere bandauged up. Four days later bhe disturbances wfere oven more _sen3us. For a whole day a great body ot 3tudents kept police and military busy in the streets. The forces of order ivei-e pelted with potatoes, eggs, and shemicals and had the greatest difficulty in keeping the rioters at bay. Foiled in their attaek a detachment of bhem invaded the Senate buildings, broke into some buildings and assaulted the commandant of the guard, lhe enraged soldiers were with difficulty prevented from using ther bayonets.