Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-26
CHURCH RESISTANCE
Progress Being Made With In
ventories in France.
SULPHUR USED ON TROOPS
Situation is Better Than It Was Last
Spring.
ONLY A FEW ARRESTS YET MADE
Trouble May Come Later, but Premier
Clemenceau Is Now Acting With
Great Caution.
SULPHUR USED ON TROOPS
'NLY A FEW ARRESTS YET MADE


PARIS, November 26-As the time ap-
proaches for the separation law to go tech
nically into effect there are daily develop
ments and daily discussions in the newspa-
pers covering the whole situation but as
yet there is no more indication than there
was months ago as to whether there is like
ly to be real trouble. The inventories of
church properties have been proceeding
with little real difficulty, and Premier Glenn
enceau today announced to the cabinet that
the inventories would be completed within
two or three days.
The recent work on the inventories has
been expeditiously performed with as little
friction as could have been expected The
authorities have been self-restrained but re-
lentless. not provoking the passions of the
people, but carrying out their duties with
ali the requisite vigor
NJ Bannet who had been project of Loire
lnferieure, has been replaced by NJ Huart,
a treasury functionary, because in M
Clemenceau's eyes M. Bonnet showed too
little energy in executing orders to make
the inventories. M. Huart is unhappy over
MS transfer. but has resignedly accepted
the job, M. Clemenceau promising to keep
MIN on his present work only for a short
period. M. Bonnet, meanwhile, has been
gwen another post. An army officer has
Deen less fortunate. Gen. Picquart announc-
ed that Capt Magn.ez has been incarcer-
ated by military authority and ordered be-
fore the council of war for refusing to obey
orders 10 carry out inventories. These Incl
dents reveal the rigor of the governments
purpose.
Sulphur Smudges Used.
On the part of the most obstinate of the
faithful a new shift has been resorted to.
In resisting the recent inventories they
have filed the churches with sulptur
smudses to smoke out the authorities.
In one instance church caught fire and
it was necessary to call out the fire de-
partment. This led to jeers in one minis
terfai organ at holy religions modern
success 1t said that In olden times heretics
were burned at the stake. Nowadays ac-
aSphyXiation.
1t may be that the archbishop of Paris
will be the first dignitary to feel the weight
OF the separation law in material way.
The archiepiscopal palace may be taken by
the state for a home for the-neW ministry
of labor. but this has not yet been def
nitely decided upon.
Premier Clemenceaus success in his diff
cult task. which is in marked contrast with
the last attempt to take Inventories is
greatly due to his use of a sufficient mill
tary force of from 200 to 800 in each
church. while the order in which the
churches are to be visited is kept absolutely
secret
AS might be expected, the chief opposi-
ton has shown in Brittany, where the ma
ttves assembled in threatening crowds but
took no acton except in two or three cases.
The priests restrained their focks from
violence. but refused to open the church
doors. which were then forced. The opera
ton of taking the inventories seldom ex-
ceeded an hour. In many churches very
little property remained to be inventoried.
Some Barbados Erected.
Less than twenty persons were arrested
throughout the whole operation, and few
Of these were held. Three clergymen were
arrested and two of them were sentenced to
imprisonment. one for three days and the
other for a month. The commissioner of
police at Douarnenez resigned rather than
act, but this was the sole example of this
kind.
Many churches were barricaded from the
inside.
In four sulphur was used. and in one
ammonia was thrown. One of the most re-
gretta-ie incidents was the breaking down
of the doors of the church at LaRoche,
which dates from the fifteenth century
Able Blaise. who claims to have built the
church at Nancy at his own expense, has
taken legal action against the project for
Intrusion on private property.
The case of the church of St. Augustin
the last in Paris to be inventoried, shows a
change in the spirit of resistance since the
previous attempt to take an inventory at
fashionable congregation filled the church
and withstood stream from the firemens
hose. Serious rioting ensued. This week
Able Jouin contented himself with reading
a strongly wOrded Pr Jtest, but the Ii. m
tories were taken peaceably.