The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-21
TROOPS MUTlNY.
A Battalion of French Soldiers
Join the Insurgents.
Took Their Arms and Ammuni-
ton With Them.
SEND OFFER OF TERMS
On Which They Will Submit to
Government Orders.
A Meeting of the Cabinet Is
Hastily Called.
SEND OFFER OF TERMS

Paris, June 21-A battalion of the
Seventeenth infantry regiment station
ed at Agde, in the department of Her
ault has deserted with it's arms and
ammunition and Joined the insurgent
wine growers at Beziers, the headquar-
tiers of the regiment.
The mutineers, who mostly were re-
cruited among the wine growers, num-
Der about 400 men. They marched into
Beziers which has about $4,000 inhabit
ARTS, with drums beating and colors
flying and are now can1ped in the prin-
C1pal square of that city with stacked
arms. The deSerterS tried to enlist the
sympathies of the remainder of the reg
iment, stationed at Beziers, but failing
to do SO they promised to eject them
from their barracks
Early this afternoon the subprefect
CT Beziers notified Premier ClemanceaC
that the n,utinet rs had offered to re-
turn to Agde on the condition that they
were not punished. A little later they
returned their demand to be allowed to
reoccupy tier former barracks at
Beziers.
NJ. Clemenceau CURLY replied that he
refused to parley with deserters or
consider any proposition but uncondi-
tional surrender, adding that he was
determined to utilize all the govern
nIent's forces if necessary in order to
suppress the uprising.
Details of the mutiny show that a
battalion of the Seventeenth infantry
regiment sent from Beziers to Agde on
account of the soldiers sympathy with
the local wine growers muitinied there
this morning, raided the magazine, fill
ed their pouches with cartridges and
with fixed bayonets and flags flying,
marched out of Agde and entered
Beziers. When notified of the mutiny,
General Croisade, commanding the
Sixty-first brigade met the mutineers
at Uillenuve and attempted to per-
suade them to return to duty.
Soldiers" he commanded, kill me,
or obey mel"
The soldiers replied that they had no
desire to kill the general but were de-
termined to return to Bezlers.
A detachment of gen d'armes tried
to bar the road but after the mutineers
bad fired a volley in the air they were
permitted to pass.
The mutineers, although without off,
GERS. marched into Beziers in perfect
order at 6 O'Clock this morning, the
cheers of the local crowd mingling with
the rolling of drums and strains of bu-
giles.
After stacking arms the deserters an
nounced their intention to remain on
the square until allowed to re-occupy
their barracks from whence they re-
Gently were transferred. The people
gave the mutineers warm welcome
and furnished them with ample provis-
ions and supplies of straw, upon which
the tired soldiers threw themselves af-
ter stationing pickets and proclaiming
their determination to defend their lives
in the event of beng attacked.
The news of this momentous detection
of troops, together with reports of other
mutinous eruptions at various points in
the revolving provinces reached the gov
eminent this morning and caused the
gravest concern. Premier Clemenceau
Immediately summoned a cabinet meet
ing At the ministry of the interior at
noon iuouirers were informed that the
reports from Narbonne and Montpelier
showed that both sides were compare
lively quiet.
1t was announced that the govern
ment's watchword remained "the law
must reign"
Interior Minister Bryand Indignantly
denied the rumors that he has resign
ed He said he was not such coward
as to desert his colleagues in the pres
ent circumstances.