The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-11
SITUATION IS GRAVE
OPEN RELIGIOUS WARFARE FEAR
 ED IN FRANCE.
Government Has Issued it's Instructions as to Action But They Are Being
 Kept Secret by Officers.


 Paris, Dec. 1O.-The press today unanimously recognizes the extreme gravity of the religious issue precipi- tated by the pope's intransigeant atti- tude, and many papers predict veritd- ble religious warfare.
 The governments calculations have been clearly upset and new legislative authority may be necessary to enable it to cope with the situation. It hay ing been decided that after tomorrow religious service may not be held with out a preliminary declaration under the law of 1881, the pope's entail the imme- diate initiation of prosecutions in &C., 900 communes and logically the inva- sion of churches by the police for the purpose of pronouncing their dissolu- tion and eXpelling the parish priests. The Militant Catholics seemingly hail with enthusiasm the prospect of war fare and the attendant excitement of religious passions.
 NJ. Jaures. the socialist leader pro- fesses to believe that the vatican has deliberately decided to test the strength of the part of the reaction in an att tempt to overthrow the repdblicI The socialist organs, generally, however, regard the pope's instructions as being the result of the governments weak ness in oqering any concession beyond the formation of the cultural associa- tions contemplated under the law of 1905 and declared that the government now has not alternative except to in- sist on declarations being made or show the ecclesiastics the door
 The conservative papers advise the government to remain true to it's lib eral principles. contending that the more the church is intolerant and panic stricken. the more authority it will need, provided the government does not lose its head. The govern ment has made preparations to cope with the situation. but is keeping them secret. The cabinet maintains a reso- lute front Instructions to the prose- cutors were telegraphed broadcast to- day.
 Premier Clemenceau is quoted as saying:
 If the church elects to have war, it will have it, but the world will bear witness that the Vatican is like a for eign power trying to dispute the au- thority of the French Government"
 M Briand, Minister of Public Wor- ship. says he thinks the Pope yielded to the importunities of the ultra montaines, who are possessed with the mad idea that out of disorder and civil war they will emerge trium phant The Government now does not face a revolt of the consciences of French Catholics, but a purely politi cal enterprise.'
 Cardinal Richard. Archbishop of Paris, announced today that he would Leave his ecclesiastical residence .pe- cember 12. and that he clergy bcre were preparing to leave their presbNtc- ries, upon demand. adding that if they are driven from the churches they will organize private religious services.
 Cardinal Richard says it is impossi- hle for the Pope to agree to place re ligious services on the plane of public meetings.
 The situation is likely to be further complicated tomorrow by the debate in Parliament, when explanations of the Governments intention will be de- manded. M. Menuir Radical RepubH can, introduced a bill in the Chamber of Deputies today, providing that all buildings. preshyteries. etc, occupied by ccclesiastics shall finally oscheli tc the State, the departments and com munes upon the enactment of the Iapv.
 The Journal Des-Debats tonight says that if the Government has recourse 10 violent measures. 1t will fall into a