CHAMPAGNE RIOTS IN FRANCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13353, 15 April 1911, Page 5

CHAMPAGNE RIOTS IN FRANCE

SITUATION VERY CRAVE. OUTRAGES BY WINEGROWERS IN MANY DISTRICTS. HOUSES BEING BURNED AND PROPERTY DESTROYED. MOB WADING IN CHAMPAGNE.

Pram Association.—Telegra pb .—Copyright. PARIS, April 13. The possibility of the principle of delimitation of the real Champagne area being abandoned has provoked a grave situation at Marne, where the winegrowers, fearing the loss of a privileged monopoly, have risen as one man. Their fury is being directed against Epernay firms, who iv accused of importing grapes from beyond the delimited area for champagne-making or wine from the Aube district, which they propose blending with the products of Marne. Private houses, equally with business houses have been burned.

The destruction would have been greater had not the straw used to ignite the buildings been saturated with spirits of wine.

The leader repressed any occasional attempt at pillage. Preconcerted plans were followed with the swiftness of a cyclone. The leaders of the various bands of rioters showed an intimate acquaintance with the different districts, and ruthlessly destroyed, in addition to wine and plant account books and furniture, while straw wrappings for protecting the vines from frost were set fire to.

RIOTERS ATTACK TROOPS.

Sky Lit Up By IncMidlary Fires.

PARIS, April 13. Fury is being directed against Ay and Epernay firms. Bells sounded in all steeples, and an explosion of hand-grenades roused the villagers. Quickly these swarmed down the vineclad slopes, evading the military cordons.

Four thousand rioters entered Ay, where the cavalry were pinned between stone walls and subjected to a volley of stones and vineyard stakes from the barricades.

The military officers were ordered to act with extreme rigor, simultaneously with the utmost prudence. Squadrons of reinforcements who were advancing to Ay hurriedly retreated to Epernay, on a report that 20,000 wine-growers-were marching thither, but were unable to intercept them. Meanwhile several establishments were sacked. Encounters between the mob and tho military were frequent. The rioters clung to the bridles and stirrups and compelled the dragoons to resort to their sabres. Numbers were injured during the affrays.

The rioters dispersed at night only, after looting the premises of Daenras and Rondeau at Epernay, wherein 311 casks of wine wore broken, the mob wadimr in champagne. The premises of Kupdermann and Ayala, at Ay, were set on fire, also the warehouses of Deutz and Geldermann. A bomb burst in the streets of Ay and wounded three soldiers—one being grievously hurt. The Mayor’s residence has been burned. Companies of infantry stationed in both towns were constantly alert daring the night. Incendiary fires illuminated the sky. FURTHER HUGE FIRES. PARIS, April 13. Huge fires have occurred at Pierry and elsewhere, in the winegrowing districts. The Chateau Montebelle is blazing. _ A series of fires broke out in the vicinity of Marenilsuray. The fire brigades at Avendry and Ay made desperate efforts to extinguish the fires, but were compelled to retreat, the mob threatening to destroy the engines. The troops saved the premises of Convasure from incendiarism. The troops were hampered in their efforts by heaps of broken bottles, poles, and paving-stones being placed in the streets during the progress of the riots.

LARGE AREA OF VINES BURNED.

PARIS. April 13. A large area of vines has been burned, and further sabotage has taken place at Yinay. At Ventinil telegraph wires were cut and revolvers discharged at the dragoon patrols, but do serious damage was done.

Twelve thousand troops have reached Epernay. Newspapers comment on the ludicrous consequences of the French Government’s indecision, and fear that the Aube agitation will result in a more dangerous

situation in Marne and Ardennes, where there were previously general rejoicings over Aube’s discomfiture. The price of champagne-is rising. MARTIAL LAW. Wholesale Waite of Wine. PARIS, April 14. Five million bottles of wine have been smashed at Ay, and 50(1 casks at Vinay. Twenty-four rioters have been arrested, including one of the ringleaders at Ay. Stolen bronzes, pictures, and clocks were seized in some of the prisoners’ domiciles.

Rioters at Venteuil burned their own barricades when the Cuirassiers appeared. Tlie vine-dressers at Venteuil met and approved of the acts of violence which had been committed. They claimed collective responsibility. The whole of the Rheims-Epornay districts are now regarded as under martial law.

CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT. PARIS, April 13. Senators and Deputies, representing the Department of Marine, telegraphed to the .Winegrowers’ Federation in Epernay urging them to exercise a restraining influence! and avoid irreparable calamities. The Premier, speaking in the Chamber, demanded and obtained an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution of confidence pledging the Government to restore order and pursue imperturably the settlement of differences arising from the delimitation of the champagne area, and finally appealing to the reason and good sense of the population, concerned in the troubles.

MANIFESTO BY WINEGROWERS. Worst Incidents Attributed to Anarchists Increasing Lawlessisss. Received April 15, 8.10 a.m. PARIS, April 14. 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 as an emissary of the Federation. The committee’s manifesto appeals to vine dressers to await the coming solution.

It is understood that the vines are considerably effected by blight, foreshadowing a poor vintage for the year. The smaller winegrowers of Marne are suffering from a series of bad harvests, and their estates are heavily mortgaged. They soli their products to big firms enjoying a reputation for genuine Marne champagne, hence they are of one mind with the latter and the cellarmen in supporting delimitation and violently protesting against the abrogation or revision of the present conditions. The Times’ Paris correspondent states that the Senate, under pressure from Aube, declared against all delimitation. The Chamber, under impulsion from Marne rioters, supported the Government, which is inclined to yield to the greatest and most recent pressure. The seriousness of the situation lies in the fact that large sections of the masses are convinced that tho proper way to influence public opinion, Parliament, and the Government is to indulge in violence. Partisans of sabotage scarcely fear the arm of the law or the military, and are confident that M. Jaures, the Socialist leader, and his friends will keep the action of both within bounds. The question is how long Frenchmen will go about their daily business on these terms, in horror of the increasing lawlessness, which possibly some day will exceed the present widespread horror, and then there will be a reaction.

20,Q00 troops are occupying Marne. They were mobilised in 48 hours. To date the winegrowers’ losses are a quarter of a million sterling. The authorities are enjoined to restore order at all costs.

ANARCHISTS TO BE ARRESTED.

Received April 15. 10 a.m. PARIS, April 14. Several police, who are engaged in the surveillance of Anarchists have been sent to Rhcims to arrest known Parisian agitators.