The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-24
WAR ON The CHURCH
FRENCH RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS BEING
CLOSED BY POLICE.
MUCH DISORDER IN PARIS.
PEOPLE OF BRITTANY GREATLY
WROUGHT UP.

AGAINST Enforcement of the Law.
Students and Otbcrs-NO Serious
collisions as Yet-Peasants of Brit
tany Prevent Nuns Being Expelled.
Lay school Teacher Thrashed
with NettIes.
Paris, July 23.-Fresh disturbances
occurred to-day as sequel to yester-
DAYS clerical outbreaks protesting
against the governments enforcement
of the law against unauthorized con-
gregations. 1t now appears that 300
nersons were arrested and numerous
prosecutions are pending, though the
majority of the prisoners were re-
leased. Fresh meetings to protest in
favor of the religious orders are ex-
pected to be held to-day, while the
Radicals and Socialist papers are urg-
ing the Republicans to meet at the
Pantheon as a counter demonstration.
Several hundred persons, chiefly
women and children, created a de-
monstration to-day in front of a
Cnulcn IN Tic 1eIIlS Willie
some expelled Sisters were departing.
The police interfered and several of
the crowd struck them with sticks.
Among those arrested were Deputies
Paglies, Cont and Archdeacon. They
were subsequently released.
Serious Disturbance Last Night.
Paris July pa serious disturbance
occurred at 1920 o'clock this evening
on the terrace at the Cafe de Musee de
CIuny. The police cleared the cafe.
arrests were made.
Some disorderly meetings of Cath
olics were held during the course of
the evening, resulting in scuffies and
the making of arrests.
Recalls Expulsion of Jesuits.
Paris July 23.-The agitation pro-
voked by the order of Prime Minister
Combes to close the congregational
schools recalls to some extent the
scenes enacted when M. Ferry, then
premier. expelled the Jesuits in 1880.
Demonstrations IN favor of the nuns
and the Teaching friars are taking
Place in Paris and many places in the
provinces, where the projects present
ed themselves at the schools, and or
dered that the institutions be closed.
Up to the present, however, no serious
incident has been recorded.
The Nationalists have joined the
Clericals in engineering the agitation.
and their leaders are in the forefront
of the effervescence in Paris Consid-
cradle sympathy has been worked up
On behalf of the nuns and their
SCHOOLS have been made the particular
OBJECTS of demonstrat tons. The Cleri-
Gals called upon their sympathizers to
meet outside of the school conducted
by the Sisters of st. Vincent de Paul
IN the northeast quarter of Paris
winch was closed this afternoon. and
considerable crowd gathered there.
compelling a large body of police and
mounted municipal guards to form
Gordon in the streets leading to the
school A few trifling collisions occur
req between the Clericals and coun-
Recommendations, who replied to the
Clericals' cries of Long live the good
slsters!' and "Vive la liberte!" with
Down with the priests!" and Long
hVe the republic!" A Nationalist
member of the Chamber of Deputies
was arrested while trying to force his
way through the police Gordon, but
was subsequently released.
Anti-Clerical meetings in the Latin
quarter this evening led to some effer-
Vescence, but no noteworthy disturb
dhces A few students, followed py
crowd composed of the rougher ele-
hent marched up and down the bou-
leVard st. Michel till a late hour,
chanting anti-Clerical refrains and
shouting Down with the priests and
the Pope!
But they fled at the sight of mount
gu guards and patrols.
W. COmbes viii Not Retreat.
Inc greatest excitement in the prov
hces is displayed in the clerical
stronghold of Brittany, where the
peasants have gathered in front of
the nuns schools in several places
ana declare they will not allow the
nuns to be expelled. For instance, at
-dhderneau a crowd of farmers and
omen have mounted guard before
tle school of the White Sisters await
ng the arrival of the police. The in
Haplta ants of the village of Ploudaniel,
"Ilo also are guarding the Sisters
sghool seized a lay schoolmaster and
thiashed him with nettles. At La
le commissary of police, accompanied
" gendarmes, thrice tried to APP
ploach the congregationist school in
oiqer to effect its closure, but was
opised to abandon the attempt be-
Iuse OF the threatening attitude of
lle population. At St Ambroix,
near Mines, the demonstrators de-
tdCned the horses from the carriages
which were conveying the Sisters to
tle railway station and dragged the
vehicles, with their occupants back to
me convent, shouting Down with the
lyrants!" The gendarmes were pow
eIIess TO prevent the demonstrators
rom carrying out their plans, and re-
niIorcements had to be summoned.
against these and similar incidents,
However. must be set off the addresses
III support of the government voted by
municipal councils.
BretOns Are Up in Arms.
While considerable sympathy is felt
Win the Sisters personally. Prime Min
ister Combes undoubtedly feels that
ne Is supported by the mass of the
Ssouhtry, and is not likely to recede
44Loin the position he has taken up. The
WVuole is caused mainly by the ambig-
ivy OF the wording of the law of as
.oClauons, which has led branches of
me congregations. such as the schools
- closed, to suppose that their posi-
~. I'm was legalized by the request TOR
~ Iithorlzation made by headquarters
ms '.ls was even the Interpretation Of the
Ser accepted by NJ. Waldeck- Rous-
49,. the former premier. but Prime
lister Combes takes contrary view.