RIOTING IN FRANCE. IN THE WIRE DISTRICTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 5

RIOTING IN FRANCE. IN THE WIRE DISTRICTS.

GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. MANY PERSONS INJURED. By Telegraph —Press Association.— Copyright. PARIS, 13th April. The possibility of the principle of the I delimitation of the real champagne | area being abandoned has provoked a grave situation in the Department of Marne, where the wine-growers, fearing the loss of a privileged monopoly, have risen as one man. Their fury has been directed mainly against firms at Epemay, an important entrepot for champagne, which is stored in vaults in the chalk rock on which the town is i builb. The growers accuse these firms of importing grapes from beyond the delimited area for purposes of cham-pagne-making, or wine from the Aube district (which is outside the area). It is further alleged that the firms propose to blend these wines with the products of the Marne. Private, equally with business, houses have been burned. The leaders of the demonstration repressed any occasional attempt at pillage. Preconcerted! plans were followed, | the destroying bands travelling over the districts with the swiftness of a cyclone. The leaders of the various parties of rioters showed an intimate acquaintance with the" different districts, and ruthlessly destroyed, besides wines and plant, account-books and f urnituTe, while the straw wrappings protecting the vines from the frosb i ■were set on fire. TOCSIN SOUNDED FROM THE STEEPLES The was directed agafnst Ay and Epernay firms, and the tocsin was sounded from all the steeples. The explosion of hand grenades roused the villagers quickly, and fchey swarmed down the vine-clad 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 barricades, which the mob had raised in the streets. The military officers were ordered to act with extreme vigour and simultaneously, but with the utmost prudence. The squadrons and reinforcements advancing upon Ay hurriedly to Epernay on a report reaching them j that 20,000 wine-growers were march- j ing_ thither, biit they were unable to intercept the rioters. Meanwhile several establishments were sacked. MOB AND MILITARY. Encounters between the mob and the .military were frequent. The rioters, clinging to the bridles and stirrups, compelled the dragoons to resort to thensabres, and numbers were injured In these affrays. The rioters dispersed at night,' only after looting the premises of Daenras and Rondeau, at Epernay, in which 311 casks of wine were broken, the mob wading in the champagne. The premises of the Kupdermann and Ayala, at Ay, were set on fire, aiso the warehouses of Deutz and Geldermaun and Gallois. A bomb burst L* the streets of Ay, wounding three soldiers, one grievously. Th« Mayor's residence was set on fire. Companies of infantry are stationed in boiih towns, and have been constantly on the alert. During the night incendiary fires illuminated the sky. FIRES RAGING. Hug© fires have occurred at Pierry and elsewhere in the wine-growing districts, and the Chateau Monte Belle js blazing. Fires" are also raging m the vicinity of Mareuil-Sur-Ay. The fire brigades at Avendry and Ay made desperate efforts to extinguish the fires, but were compelled to retreat, as the mob threatened to destroy the engines. The troops saved the premises of M. Convasure from incendiarism, but they were hampered in their efforts by heaps of broken bottles, poles and paving stones. During the progress of the riots, the senators and deputies representing the Department of Marine, telegraphed to the Winegrowers' Federation of Epernay, urging them to exercise a restraining influence, and to avoid irreparable calamities. GOVERNMENT PLEDGED TO RESTORE ORDER. The Premier, in the Chamber of Deputies, demanded and obtained an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution of confidence pledging the Government to restore order and pursue imperturbably its efforts for a settlement of the differences arising out of the delimitation of the champagne area., and finally appealing to the reason and good sense of the population concerned. TWELVE THOUSAND TROOPS AT EPERNAY. A large area of vines has been burned, and further sabotage has occurred in Vinay and Venteuil. The telegraph wires have been cut, and revolvers were discharged at the dragoon patrols, but without serious results. Twelve thousand troops have reached Epernay. The newspapers comment on the ludicrous consequences of the French Government's indecision, and express fears that the Aube agitation will result in a more dangerous situation in Marne and 4.rdennes, where previously there was general repoicing over Aube's discomfiture. The price of champagne is rising. | ACTS OF VIOLENCE APPROVED. A total of five million bottles of wine t were smashed at Ay, and five hundred casks at Vinay. Twenty-four rioters have been arrested, including one of the ringleaders. Stolen bronzes, pictures, and clocks i were seized m some of the prisoners' I domiciles. The rioters at Venteuil burned their own barricades when the cuirassiers appeared. The vine-dressers at Venteuil met and approved of the acts of violence com- [ mitted, and claimed collective responsibility. The whole of Rheims and Epernay are now regarded as military districts.