WINE-GROWERS' RIOTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 278, 15 April 1911, Page 5

WINE-GROWERS' RIOTS

VINEYARDS AND WAREHOUSES BURNING. THOUSANDS OF RIOTERS AT WORK. Gable —Prws Association —Copyright. Paris, April 12. The rioting at Damery continued throughout the night. The premises of five champagne firms were wrecked, and the streets were flowing with champagne. Two squadrons of dragoons were unable to enter the town owing to barricades. Women at Damery threw themselves in front of the dragoons' horses, and prevented them reaching the barricades. Order was restored, and additional troops have been despatched. Rioters rushed the military cordon at Ay, and burned two cellars. Dragoons charged the rioters at'Epernay, and used their sabres. There were several casualties. THE MILITARY CALLED OUT. RUTHLESS DESTRUCTION. Received 14, 5.5 p.m. PARIS, April 12. There is a possibility of the priaciple of the delimitation of the real champagne area being abandoned. It has provoked a grave situation in Marne, where the wine-growers, fearing the loss of a privileged monopoly, have risen as one man, their fury being directed against the Epernay finns who were accused- of importing grapes from beyond the delimited area for champagnemaking, or wine from the Aube district, which they proposed blending with the products of Marne. Private, equally with business houses, have been burned. The destruction would have been greater, had not straw used in igniting them been saturated with spirits of wine. The leaders have 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 intimate acquaintance with the different districts, and ruthlessly destroyed, besides wine and plant, account books and furniture,, while the straw wrappings protecting the vines from frost, were set on fire. NIGHT ALARM. SWARMS OF VILLAGERS ENCOUNTER THE CAVALRY. WADING IN CHAMPAGNE Paris, April 13. Fury was directed against Ay and Epernay firms. The tocsin sounded from all steeples, and the 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 was pinned between stone walls and subjected to a volley of stones from the barricades. The military ordered the cavalry to act with extreme rigor, simultaneously with the Utmost prudence. Squadrons of reinforcements advancing to Ay hurriedly retreated to Epernav owing to a report that 20,000 wine-grow-ers were marching thither, but they were unable to intercept them. Meanwhile, several establishments had been sacked. Encounters between the mob and the military were frequent. The rioters clung to bridles and stirrups, compelling the dragoons to resort to their sabres. Numbers were injured in the affrays. The rioters dispersed at night, only after looting the premises of Daenras and Rondeau at Epernay, wherein 311 casks of wine were broken, the mob wading in champagne. Th? premises of Knpdermann and Ayala, i't Ay, 1 were set afire, also the warehouses of Deutz and Geldermann and Gallois. A bomb burst in th? streets at Ay, wounding three soldiers, cne 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 illuminated the sky. HUGE FIRES RAGING. Paris, April 12. Huge fires are raging at Pierry and elsewhere in the wine-growing districts. The Chauteau Montebelle is blazing. A series of fires occurred in the vicinity of Marenilsuray. Fire brigades at Avcndry and Ay, after desperate efforts, extinguished the fires, but were compelled to retreat, the mob threatening to destroy the engines. J Troops saved the premises of Convasure from incendiarism, but the troops were hampered in their efforts by heaps of broken Ibottles, poles, and paving stones in the streets. GOVERNMENT PLEDGED TO RESTORE ORDER. Paris, April 13. During the progress of the riots the Senators and Deputies representing the Department of Marne telegraphed to the Wine-growers' Federation at Epernay, urging them to exercise a restraining influence, and avoid irreparable calamities. The Premier, in the Chamber, demanded and obtained an overwhelming majority in favor of a resolution of confidence, pledging the Government to restore order and pursue imperturbably the settlement of the differences arising from the delimitation of the champagne area, finally appealing to the reason and good sense of the population concerned in the troubles. FURTHER SABOTAGE REPORTED. PRICE OF CHAMPAGNE RISES. Paris. April 13. A large area of vines was burned. Further sabotage is reported from Vinay and Ventenil. The telegraphs were cut. Rcyeivera dere discharged at dragoon

patrols, but no serious damage was caused. Twelve thousand troops have reached Epernay. The newspapers comment on the ludicrous consequences of the French Government's indecision. Fears wfere expressed of the Aube agitation resulting in a more dangerous situation than at Marne and Ardenses, where previously there were general rejoicings over Aube's discomfiture. The price of champagne is rising. ARREST OF A RINGLEADER. DISTRICTS GUARDED BY MILITARY Received 15, 12.30 a.m. Paris, April 14. A total of five million bottles of wine were smashed at Ay, and five hundred casks at Vinay. Twenty-four have been arrested, ineluding one of the ringleaders, at Ay. Stolen bronzes, pictures, and clocks have been seized in some of the prisoners' domiciles. Rioters at Ventenil burned their own barricades when the cuirassiers appeared. The vinedressers there met and approved of the acts of violence committed, and claimed collective responsibility. The whole of the Rheims. and . Epernay districts are now guarded by military.