The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-17
RIOTS FEARED IN RENNES.
Troops Ordered to Fire on MODS at First
Sign of Disorder.
sp, eiar cabn Despatch 10 TIE sux.

Special Cdble Despatch 10 The SUN.
RENNEs. Aug. 16.-Rhe authorities say they
have definite information OF plot involving an
uprising in Rennes. and have adopted extreme
measures to squelch the conspirators and their
allies Instructions have been issued to the
troops to Are upon any crowd at the FIRST sign
Of demonstration.
Drums have been stationed with each COM
mand. three rolls OF a drum being accordingto
French law. equivalent to the reading Of the
Riot Act in England When five rolls OF the
drums are beaten. it is a signal for the troops
to fire.
1t is believed that the agitators are plotting a
Jewish and Dreyfusite massacre on st. Barthol-
orlcw's Day, the anniversary OF which falls on
Thursday next Such. at least, is the accepted
version OF the plan on the streets OF Rennes to-
night.
Fifty more detectives from Paris arrived here
this evening.
Several arrests were made hero in the course
Of the evening in connection with the Royalist
plot, OF which additional information has been
gained in Paris during the past two days The
plan of the Royalists Is believed to have been
to have the first movement made in Rennes.
from which city it was expected to spread
through France. The police refuse to give the
names Of the prisoners or to furnish any de-
tails OF the plot.
For several days nearly every one OF the 300
correspondents, representing all OF the i'm por-
tant journals OF the world. seems to have felt
instinctively impelled to take the most alarm
lat vi ~ tha cit IN, IN
France at large. The nervous tension
which has been high since the trial be-
gan. increased instead Of diminishing. and
the news from Paris aggravated the uneasi-
ness. GuGrin's open defiance OF the law and
the Government makes a strong and danger
Gus impression outside OF the capital. 1t Is
seriously discrediting the Government. whose
| chief hold upon tho people has been its reputa-
! ton for courage and mex orable rigor in en-
| forcing the law.
! Rennes has apparently been callously indif-
ferent to the great drama which is being en-
| acted here. but it would be terrible mistake
| to rely upon this conservation now. The au-
| thorities have been warned that the town is a
! veritabe smothered volcano OF human passion.
which has been quietly and systematically
, fomented almost to the bursting point.
During yesterdays holiday several OF tho
| correspondents took the trouble to wander
bluRy through tne poorer Oh henneS,
where nearly $4,000 people live. Everywhere
| there was only one topic discussed and only
| one opinion expressed. 1t was that there were
| too many Jews and too many Dreyfus-
! ards in Rennes and that they should
| be driven out. Nor was there tho slightest
| concealment Of tho universal desire to take
part in their determination 1t Is explained
now why fresh proclamation is issued al
| most daily urging the citizens to remain calm.
and why the troops have constantly been rein
| forced until the little city is an armed camp.
! II Dreyfus Is acquitted, an overwhelming dis
play OF force will be necessary to preserve
| order
The importation OF desperadoes from Paris
by the antl-Dreyfus side is another ugly
| feature. They are present in considerable
numbers. but with the exception Of the shoot
ing OF NJ. Labor. they have done nothing yet
to incite public prejudice and the authori-
| ties continue to tolerate their presence.
An incident which Is constantly expected and
| which might precipitate trouble is a row be-
| tween the representatives OF the gutter press
| OF Paris and the extreme Dreyfusites. There
have been several minor affairs Of this nature,
| and II would not be deplorable II a score or
two should damage each other in such an en-
counter. provided the trouble did not spread