The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-26
Buildings Barricaded, and Women
and Men Ready to Defend Catholic
Sisters and Friars.
QUEER SITUATION IN FRANCE
SCHOOLS CONVERTED INTO FORT
REssEs AT SOME PLACES.
Vain Appeal to Madame Loubet, Who
Declined to Intercede with
Her Husband.

PARIS, July 25.-A Cabinet council at the
Elysee Palace to-day examined the ques-
tions brought up by the application of the
law of associations. President Loubet
signed a decree submitted by the premier.
NJ. Combes, ordering the forcibe closure of
twenty-six congregationist schools in
Paris and in the Department of the Seine
which have refused to disperse voluntarily.
DEGREES closing forcibly similar schools in
other departments will be signed so soon as
the projects reports are received.
A serious situation is prevailing in the
Catholic country around Brest on account
of the closing of the unauthorized schools
The countryside has taken up arms and is
determined to resist any attempt at the
forcible execution of the orders of the pre-
mier An incident yesterday evening at
st. Meen. eighteen miles from Brest, shows
the spirit of the peasants. Two newspaper
men of Brest drove there in an automobile
to investigate the situation at the sisters
school, Immediately after they had en-
tered the commune boy sounded bugle
and crowds of peasants swarmed from the
fields armed with pitchforks and iron
bound sticks, shouting, Long live the sis
ters!' Long live liberty" One of the re-
pOrters was dragged from the automobile
and the fanatics beat him with their pitch
forks and sticks. The newspaper man ex-
planned in the Breton dialect that he had
only come in search of information, but the
crowd refused TO listen TO him and the re-
porters had to keep them at bay with re-
volver. He succeeded in regaining the auto
mobile and drove of at full speed, followed
by a shower of stones.
a school at Ploudanel. in the same
neighborhood, has been converted into a
fortress, barricades have been erected and
the inhabitants have formed a Gordon about
the surrounding area. The lady superior
said: You see our barricades. They must
shoot us before we yield. There will be
bloodshed if any one attempts to enter. -
Placards have been posted in the town
ships urging resistance to the police
The population OF Landerneau, twelve
miles from Brest. hase formed relays to
guard the school and peasant women sit
on benches opposite the gate knitting while
awaiting the coming of the gendarmes.
They are greatly excited and declare they
prefer to be shot rather than abandon the
sisters The lady superior of the Landerneau
convent said: Like true Bretons we will
only yield 10 force. The women and other
people who are guarding the school night
and day have given a courageous ex-
ample.
The population of Roscoff is guarding the
schools day and night. Sentinels are watch
ing the roads and men are sleeping on the
ground in the neighborhood in order 10 be
ready at the first alarm. Count Albert de
Nun. the clerical leader in the Chamber of
Deputies. Is stumping the country, de-
nouncing the action OF the government and
urging resistance.
a strange scene. reminiscent OF stormier.
sadder days in France. occurred TODAY
at the Elysee Palace. y large delegation OF
women. including the wives OF several mem
bers OF the Chamber of Deputies, ASSEMBLED
at the palace 10 endeavor personally 10 inn
plore Madame Loubet to appeal To her hus-
band 10 stop the school prosecutions
Madam Loubet sent out word 10 them by
General Dubois. head OF the PRESIDENT 5
military household, that il was impossible
for her to receive deputation upon a sub
ject which was solely within the scope OF
the executive.
The wife OF Deputy Reille made a violent
protest Tell Madame Loubet" she said
that the blood of women will flow If meas
ures are not taken 10 stop this Ill treatment