Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-21
MEN DESERTED
Battalion of French Soldiers Took Along lis Arms and
 Ammunition Also
400 HAVE GONE

Seventeenth infantry regiment, sta- tioned at Agde, in the department of Herault, has deserted with it's arms and ammunition and joined the in surgent wine grower at Beziers, the headquarters of the regiment. The mutineers, who were recruited among the wine growers, number about four hundred men. They marcned into Be- ziers, which has about 5U,O00 inhabi- tants with drums beating and colors flying and are now camped in the principal square of the city with stacked arms. The deserters tried to enlist the sympathies of the remain der of the regiment, stanoned at Be- ziers, but failing to do so they prom ised to eject them from their bar racks.
 Early this afternoon the sub-pre- feet of Beniers notified Premier Clem- enceau that they were not punished. A little later they renewed the de- mand to be allowed to re-occupy their former barracks at Beziers. M. Clem- enceau curtly replied that he refused to barley with deserters or consider any proposal but unconditional sur render, adding that he was determin- ed to utilize all the governments forces if necessary in order to suppress the uprising.
 Details of the mutiny show that a battalion of the Seventeenth infan- try regiment, sent from Beziers to Agde on account of the soldiers synl- pathy with the local wine growers. mutinied there this morning, raided the magazine, filled their pouches with cartridges and with fixed bay onets and flags flying, marched out of Agde and entered Beziers. When noti- fled of the mutiny General Croisade, commanding the sixty first brigade, met the mutineers at Villeneuve and attempted to persuade them to return to duty.
 Soldiers" he commanded, kill me or obey me-"
 The soldiers replied that they had no desire to kill the general, but were determined to return to Beziers.
 Gendarmes tried to bar the road but after the mutineers had fired a volley in the air they were permitted to pass.
 The mutlneers although without officers, marched into Beziers in per feet order at six o'clock this morning, the cheers of the local crowds ming ling with the rolling of the drums and the strains of the bugles. After stack ing arms, the deserters announced their intention to remain on the square until allowed to re-occupy their barracks. whence they recently were transferred. The people gave the mutlneers the warmest welcome and furnished them with ample provis- ions and supplies of straw upon which the tired soldiers threw themselves after stationing pickets and proclaim ing their determination to defend their lives in the event of being attacked.
 The news of this momentous defec- ton of troops, together with reports of other mutinous eruptions at various points in the revoltlng provinces reached the government this morning and caused the gravest concern.
 Premier Clemenceau immediately summoned a cabinet meeting.
 At the ministry of the interior at noon inquirers were informed that the reports from Narbonne and Montpel- Her showed that both cities were com paratively quiet.
 At 9 o'clock this morning 1t was announced that the governments watchword remained, "The law must reign"
 Interior Minister Briand indignant ly denied the rumors that he has re- signed. He said he was not such a coward as to desert his colleagues under the present circumstances.
 Paris, June 21.-General Pailloud with artillery and other troops Is pro- ceeding to Beziers to compel the un- conditional surrender of the mutin- eers.