New-York tribune., 1902-08-19
PEASANTS FIGHT POLICE.
STOUT RESISTANCE BY MOBs To THE
CLOSING OF SCHOOLS IN BRITTANY

Brest. France, Aug. 1S.-The attempt made h.,
the authorities to-day to close the Sisters.
schools at Ploudaniel. FolgOet and ST Meen. TIE
last villages in Brittany where unauthorized
schools were still open. met with determined
resistance. The inhabitants were on guard
throughout the night. and the tocsin was sound
ed when the approach of the gendarmes and
troops was signalled at o'clock in the morning
At P1oudanieI. in spite of heavy fall OF rain
a crowd numbering several thousand peoula
replied with boots to the summons Of the polics
commssaries while the ringing of church and
school bells drow1ed the voices Of the officials
When an attempt was made to force the strong
" barricaded door it failed. the defenders in
the mean while crying Judas and singing
Breton hymns. mingled with cheers for liberty
and shouts of Down with Conlbes"' The CON-
missaries tried to attack the school BY the gar
den wall. which they ordered the soldiers tn
breach. This was done in the midst Of shoverv
Of filth and muddy water from the defenders
who manned the breach, armed with clubs and
prevented the commissaries from penetrating
into the garden The soldiers attempted IN
scale the wall with the aid of a pile Of fagots
but the defenders deluged the fagots WITH
petroleum and set them on fire, whereupon the
commissaries and troops drew off amid cheers
for liberty and for the Sisters.
At St Meerl the Sisters were expelled and
the school was closed after a two hours strug-
gle. during which a police Commissary was
wounded.
The Temps says Commandant Leroy La
duric of the 10Th Infantry. who refused to obey
an order to aid in closing unauthorized schools
has been placed under arrest
After their repulse at the garden wall Of the
school at PlOudaniel. the conlmissaries decided
to await reinforcements In the mean tina
Senator PichOn and Counsellor General Soub!gou
persuaded the defenders OF the school to open
the door. After this had been done the Sisters
walked to the church. accompanied by the oTa-
the school and made an inventory Of the prop
erty They then sealed the doors.
In the course of the riOting two gendarmes
were slightly wounded. The leading inhabitants
of PloudanieI have taken the expelled Sisters TO
their homes. Similar, though less violent scenes
attended the closing of the schools and the ex-
pulsion of the Sisters at Folgoet and st. Meen
Paris. Aug 1S.-The Councils General
throughout France began their sittings to-day
Many Of them have already voted congratuia-
tions to President Loubet and Premier Con5es
upon the application OF the Law Of Associations;
others have adopted protests against the closing
of unauthorized congregationist schools. III
which they ask for the return of the Sisters
At Quirnper in Finistere. several thousand
peasants and others from all parts OF the De-
partrnent assembled to-day and presented Pc
tition in favor Of the retention OF the Sisters
The Council General adopted this petition by
thirty-fve votes to two A counter denonstra-
ton at Quir1per resulted IN rioting. in which
several persons were slightly injured
Premier Cornbes has been elected president Of
the Council General Of the Department Of Cha
rent Inferieure by 80 votes 10 1.