THE WINE RIOTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10213, 15 April 1911, Page 5

THE WINE RIOTS

C NEWS

United Press Association—By EleC' trie Telegraph — Copyright.

CHAMPAGNE PREMISES WRECKED.

DRAGOONS CALLED OUT

(Received April 13, 9 a.m.)

PARIS. April 12. Tho rioting in Damery continued throughout the night. The premises of five champagne firms were wrecked, and the streets are flowing with champagne. Two squadrons of dragoons were unable to enter the town owing to the barricades. Women at Damery threw themselves in front of the Dragoons' horses and prevented the soldiers reaching tho barricades. Order has been restored. Additional troops have been dispatched to the scene. The rioters rushed a military cordon at Ay, and pillaged and burned two cellars.

Dragoons are charging the rioters at Epernay with drawn sabres. Several casualties have occurred.

CONFLICT WITH MILITARY,

A FURIOUS MOB

FIRES RAGING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) PARIS, April 13. The fury of the populace if directed against Ay and Epernay firms. A tocsin sound from all steeples, •md an explosion of hand grenades, roused the villagers quickly. These swarmed- down the vine-clad slones, evading the military cordons. Four thousand rioters entered the village of Ay, wher the cavalry, pinned between stone walls, were subjected to a volley of stones and vinevard stakes from the barricades. The military officers were ordered to net with extreme rigor, simultaneous with the utmost prudence.. Squadrons of reinforcements, which were advancing to Ay, hurriedly retreated to Epernay on Hearing a report that 20.000 wine-growers were marching thither, but they were unable to intercept them.

Meanwhile several establishments were sacked. Encounters between the mob and military were frequent. The rioters, clinging to the bridles and stirrups, compelled the dragoons to resort to sabres. Numbers were injured in the affray. The rioters were dispersed at night, only after looting the premises of Daenras and Rondeau, of Epernay, in which 311 casks of wine were broken. The mob was literally wading in chnmpagne. Tho premises of Kupdermann and Ayala, at Ay. were set afire, also the w.T'pbouses of Peutz and Gildermann. and Gallois. A bomb burst in the streets of Ay. wounding three soldiers, one lyT'hp Minor's, residence is in flames. Companies of infantry stationed in "both towns were constantly on the alert. During the night incendiary fires illuminated, the sky. Huge fires occurred at Pierry and -H-'i-liere in ibe wine-growing districts.

Chateau and Montebelli's are blazing-

A series of fires occurred in the vicinitv of Mareulsurav.

The fi.ro brigades at Avendry and A.y made desperate effort* to extinguish the fires, but were compelled to retreat, the mob threatening to destroy the engines. Troops saved the premises of Convasure from incendiarism. Tho troops were hampered in their efforts by heaps of broken bottles, poles and paving stones in the streets. Dining tho progress of the riots, the Senators and Deputies representing the Department of Marne telegraphed to tho Wine-growers' Federation at Epernay, urging the excercise of restraining influence to avoid irreparable calamities.

The Premier, in the Chamber of Deputies, demanded and obtained an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution of confidence, pledging tho Government to restore order and pursue imperturbably the settlement of the difficulties rising from the delimitation of the champagne vintage area, and finally appealing to the reason and good sense of the population concerned in the troubles.

LATER PARTICULARS

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. (Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.) PARIS, April 13. The possibility of the principle of delimitation in the real champagne area being abandoned has provoked a grave situation at Marne, where the, wine-growers, fearing the loss of their privileged' monopoly, have risen as one man. Their fury is directed against Epernay firms, who are accused of importing grapes from the delimited area for champagne making, or wine from the Aube district which they proposed blending with the products of Marne. Private as well as 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 leaders repressed any occasional attempt at pillage. Preconcerted plans were followed with the swiftness of a cyclone. The leaders of various bands showed an intimate acquaintance with the different districts, and ruthlessly destroyed, besides wine and wine-making plants, account books and furniture. The straw wrappings protecting the vines from frost were also set on fire.

LARGE AREA BURNED. REVOLVERS DISCHARGED AT DRAGOONS. (Received Last Night. 5.5 o'clock.) PARTS, April 13. A huge area of vines has, been burned. Further sabotage has' occurred in the Vinay and Ventinel districts. Tho telegraph wires have been cut,