The Cairo bulletin., 1906-02-17
FRANCE ON VERGE
OF GREAT REVOLT.
BREAKING INTO CHURCHES
RoUsEs RELIGIOUS AND
ARIsTocRATic SECTION.
BEGINNING OF TROUBLE
Extraordinary Scenes Of Violence
Which Have Hitherto Been
Closed over--May Cause
Downfall Of Rouvier


Paris, Feb. Religious France
and that section Of the nation still
exists largely, Notwithstanding the
Official separation of Church and State
lis stirred 70 its very depths by the
1 idesecration that marked the inyen
tories of clerical properties. A very
ugly feeling prevails, and parliament,
when it meets, will have 10 face d
/ clerical revolt that may upset the
| Rouvier ministry.
| 1t unfortunately happens that aris-
/ tocrats and royallsts are the great
ma ntaining factors Of Catholicism in
| France, and these riots have set the
classes against the masses with such
angry yehemence that the peace of the
rapuL..c Is seriously endangered
Beginning of the Troubles.
4 The first scene OF real violence was
at the Church of ST. Roch, near the
| Theatre Francis. A large congregation
gathered inside and bolted the door:
The authorities backed by The police
were obliged to break their way into
the sacred edifice. Out in the street
the hungry crowd fell upon the police
One excited groceryman grabbed a
crucfix from a pious bystander and
beat a policeman with It upon the
head until he tainted from loss Of
blood.
The following day II was the turn
Of st. Clotilde, the favorite church OF
the aristocratic Fauborg 81. Germain
II stands quite near the Chamber Of
Deputies, and its lace-like spires are
familiar sight to American visitors
10 Paris. AT an early hour crowd OF
several hundred men had gathered
outside the church and prepared for
the arrival Of the authorities By arm
ny themselves with canes and stout
ticks
AS soon as the police who escorted
he authorities were seen approaching
he young men gathered upon the
hurch steps and closed HE great iron
yatos of the railing which SHIFTS 4 off
rom the street
Ordered TO Do His Duty.
NJ Lepne, the chief Of police. FOL
lowed by the official charged With taxi
'ng the inventory. stepped ur TO the
,losed gates and demanded that they
| ic opened ain the name OF the law.
! This the defenders Of the church re-
! fused TO do. The prefect then ad
! dressed the crowd, calling upon them
he peaceful. Some one shouted out
You are good Catholic yourself:
why do you lend your help 10 such
d'sgraceful proceedings" And the pre-
feet replied in a voice vibrating With
emotion, 1T Is nor Of my own will
that am doing this
However. the crowd refused 10 allow
:he authorities 10 enter the church.
and NJ. Lepine, not wishing 10 use
force against the people without or
1ers from the highest authorit 'es, tele-
Dhoned to the Ministry of the Interior.
He got the reply; use force. DO your
luty. Call the troops If necessary"
NJ Lepine then ordered the police
to force an entrance The crowd re-
.isted frantically Numerous persons
we're severely injured Mounted police
charged the mass. The men of the mob
struck the horses on the head with
their canes aud the animals plunging
rearlng and backing, severely wounded
several manfestants who had 70 be
carried away on stretcheTs.
The fire br gade was called UP, \
couple Of engines gallopad to the
scene and soon a stream OF water was
pouring upon the crowd which. under
this deluge. fell back somewhat. Thea
several hundred police. reinforced By
municipal guards. rushed in. lung
back the doors and began 70 clear out
he congregation.
81. Pierre du Gro. Caiilou was the
scene Of the next disturbance. which
assumed all the features OF riot A
large crowd had gathered inside the
church and upon the sidewalk This
time the atthor ties were preceded
bv squadron Of monntei muuicipsl
guards. who charged the crowd with
drawn swords forcing a passage for
the police.
Inside he church an excited crowd.
among whom were ~ Ed0urd ORR
mont. the editor Of the Ubre PSrole.
a noted journalist. and Leon Daudet.
the son OF the famous novelist When
the Prsfect Of Police. accompanied By
an official Of the Department Of Do
mains. arrived before the doors Of the
church be called upon those within
20 open them Tn s they refused 10 10.
Drums Roii: Blot Act Read
Then an official mounted the steps.
closely followed by drummer Once
more the crowd was called upon 70
give way. and then the riot sct vas
read. and three times ia succession
the roll Of the drum sounded
The police were called Nd 20 batter
down the doors. They were poweriess-