New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-11
AT THE FRENCH CAPITAL
NO SERIOUS RESISTANCE TO EXECU-
TON OF RELIGIOUS DEGREES
THE NAVAL MANCEUvRES.
Copyright: 1902 By The Tribune Associatlon)

DEGREES
religious orders have now been executed rIgor-
ously in the eighty-six departments into which
France is divided except in the departments of
Morbihan, where they will be enforced on Mon
day, and Finistere. where they will be carried
oout before the end of the week
Nothing very serious has happened in Brit
tany or elsewhere a result Of resistance 70
the government officials closing the recalcitrant
convent schools. The credit for this is largely
due to the patriotism Of Emile de Villiers the
Catholic and RoyaIist Deputy Of Finistere; of
Count Albert de Nun, Of Senator Admiral de
Cuverville and Of Able Gayraud, Catholic
Deputy. who have made public speeches all
through the excited districts of Brittany, ex-
horting the people to abstain from bIoodshed
and rot attack the government troops, and
pointing out to the hotheaded Bretons that by
lawful protestaton they have a good chance
of acquiring universal sympathy and of finally
redressing what they consider TO be their
wrongs.
On the other hand there are numerous Ma
tionalist emissaries in Brittany who are doing
all they can to persuade the country folk to
show headstrong resistance and bring about
civil war. The situation is exceedingly pictur-
esque. The beautiful briar hedges that line
every lane and road in Brittany conceal peas
ants In national costume posted as sentries.
These videttes are provided with bugles, which
they blow as warning % the approach of
government troops. which being concen-
trated in great force. The peasants col
lected in groups near the villages, and have
completely deserted the fields, where the ripe
wheat and buckwheat. which is the national
food Of the people. are fattening the soil In
imminent danger of rotting. The village folk
kneel barekeaded before the and chant
the "Parce Domino" and sing weird Gallo
wiry. shaggy Breton ponies. carrying tidngs
hither and thither. There are plenty of shouts
of Long live the nuns!" Long live Liberty"
Down with the Ministry etc. Locksmiths
who pick the locks OF the refractory schools are
protected by triple rows of soldiers. When
mounted gendarmes and dragons appear their
horses surrounded by dense crowds of peas
antry who press about them crying Long live
the army"
The attitude and the discipline of the troops
are excellent. In one instance a gendarme at
Landerneau was obliged to take part in the
expulsion of his sister, who religious
teacher in a parochiaI school a corporal wear
ing military medal. who took part in clos
ing the Landerneau convent. did so, but NUT
tered all the while a blunt but basphemous
oath.
The military force in Brittany is now over
whelming that any resistance. even II offered
which is not at all likely, would be at
suppressed The calm and patriotic attitude Of
Comte Albert de Nun and the other Reaction
airy Deputies is so unusual among Royalists
and extreme Clericals that it deserves TO be
signalized. The attitude also Of the French
Free Education League In Paris. the leading
men of which are Anatole Leroy Beauleu. Cor
nelis de Witt Guizo and Gabrield Monod. prom
inent Protestants; NJ. Brunetiere, General de
Galliffet, Berger, Ri5ot and others, proclaiming
their opinions in vigorous but lawful manner.
is having an excellent influence and will In
time. it is thought, bring about practical
modus viyendi
VI. Combes Is meanwhile making strenuous
efforts to supply school accommodation at the
close of the summer vacation for the former
pupils Of the closed schools of the nuns. It
should also be noted that NJ. Cornbes has re-
ceived great number OF congratulatory ad-
dresses from inhabitants of departments such
those of Rhone, Belfort, Gard, Haute Saone,
Seine Inferieure and elsewhere. where the polit-
ical watchword is Gambetta's memorable
maxim, THE inveterate enemy of the French
Republic is clericalism."
The French naval mannuvres including tao
teal operations between the Mediterranean
squadron under Admiral de Maigret and the
Northern squadron under Admiral de Court
hille, both forces being under the supreme direc-
q
Toulon Thursday with a grand coaling and
victualling competition Of the whole fleet which
was accomplished in the record time Of thirty
two hours. The contest was very animated the
bands of each ship playing merrily TO encourage
the sweating bluejackets. The ship which won
first prize for rapid coaling is the Bouvet which
took into her bunkers $50 tons OF coal in one
hour and twenty-three minutes accomplishing
this with her own crew alone. The total guam
tity of material put board the fleet during
the thirtytwo hours 1900 tons Of coal,
$4,000 pounds of mineral oil, 100000 pounds Of
olive oil and 1000 tons Of drinking water, be-
sides one months rations and one months sup
ply of ammunition. Admiral Gervais and other
naval authorities are highly satisfied with the
results, especially with the gunnery and steam
tactics Nearly all the flag instructions were
signaled by wireless telegraphy, and at night
the ships navigated without lights The North
ern~ squadron will leave Toulon for Brest on
Sunday.
In the French army maneuvres this year
great attention is being given 10 heavy artillery
and siege operations which are carried on at
Chalons on far more extensive scale than
ever before. The mobilization and transporta-
ton Of siege material is furnishing plenty Of
work for the French railway regiment and is
a useful test for the great railroad companies
which fulfilling their part in the operations
with efficiency and rapdty. At three hours
notice twelve trains. comprising three hundred
cars steamed out of the military station at
Versailles for Chalons, laden with big guns
ammunition and all sorts of material for be-
sieging a fortress. Thus both in the French
navy and in the French army the operations
this year almost exclusively devoted, not to
spectacular feats. but to the practical hard
work of victualling concentrating and moving
unpicturesque side of warfare.
ell