The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-27
PROVINCES ARE IN ARMS
Around Brest the People Are Ripe
For Fighting.
NEWSPAPER MEN ROUGHLY HANDLED
Peasants Believing Them Foes to the Schools
Assemble at Buge's Call and Attack
Them With Pi'chforks and IRON
Sized Sticks.
(By the Associated Press.)


Paris, July 25-A Cabinet council at
the Elysee Palace today examined the
questions brought up by the application
of the Law of Associations President
Loubet signed decree submitted by
the Premier, NJ. Combes, ordering the
forcible closure of &c congregationist
schools in Paris and in the Department
Of the Seine which have refused to dis
perse voluntarily. DEGREES closing for
chilly similar schools in other depart
ments will be signed so soon as the
projects reports are received.
A serious situation is prevailing in the
Catholic country around Brest on ac-
count of the closing of the unauthorized
schools. The country side has taken up
arms and is determined to resist any at
tempt at the forcible execution of orders
of the Premier.
An incident yesterday evening at Saint
Meen, 10 miles from Brest, shows the
spirit of the peasantry. Two newspaper
men of Brest drove there in an automobile
to investigate the situation at the Sis
ters' school, Immediately after they had
entered the commune a boy sounded a
bugle and crowds of peasants swarmed
from the fields, armed with pitch-forks
and iron bound sticks, shouting; Long
live the Sisters" Long live liberty"
One of the reporters was dragged from
the automobile and the fanatics beat him
with their pitch-forks and sticks. The
newspaper men explained in the Breton
dialect that he had only come in search
of information, but the crowd refused
to listen to him and the reporter had to
keep them at bay with a revolver. He
succeeded in regaining the automobile
and drove off at full speed, followed by
a shower of stones.
A school at Ploudaniel. in the same
neighborhood, has been converted into
fortress, barbados have been erected
and the inhabitants have formed a cor
don about the surrounding area. The
lady superior said:
You see our barbados? They must
shoot us before we yield. There will be
bloodshed il any one attempts to en-
ter
Placards have been posted in the town
ships urging resistance to the police.
A strange scene reminiscent of
stormier, sadder days in France occurred
today at the Elysee Palace. A large
delegation of women, including the
wives of several members of the Chamber
of Deputies, assembled at the palace to
endeavor personally to implore Madame
Loubet to appeal to her husband, the
President, to stop the school prosecu-
tions.
Madame Loubet sent out word to them
by General Dubois, head of the Presi-
dents military household. that it was
impossible for her to receive a deputa-
ton upon a subject which was solely
within the scope of the executive.
The wife of Deputy Reille made vio-
lent protest.
Tell Madame Loubet," she said, chat
the blood of women will flow if measures
are not taken to stop this ill-treatment
of the Sisters. We will address a letter
to the wife of the President, in which
we will declare war upon the oppressers.
The Christian women of France have de-
cided not to suffer in silence"