Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-21
DESERT THEIR FLAG
FOR WINE GROWERS
Whole French Battalion Goes
Over to the WOrkmen.
AN OFFER TO RETURN
Men Relent and Say They Will Go
Back, With Conditions.
SERIOUS TROUBLE VERY LIKELY
Government Will Demand an Absolute
Unconditional Surrender-Force
Sent for the Purpose.

PARIS, June 2I.-Gen. Bailloud,
with artillery and other troops, is
proceeding to Beziers in order to
compel the unconditional surren-
der OF the mutineers, who are now
said to number COZ men.
PARIS June 21.-The battalion Of the
18th Infantry Regiment, stationed at Agde
In the department of Herault, has deserted
with its arms and ammunition and Joined
the insurgent wine growers at Beziers, the
headquarters of the regiment. The mu-
tineers, who mostly were recruited among
the wine growers, number about 400 men.
They marched into Beziers, which has
about 10000 inhabitants. with drums beat
ing and colors flying, and are now carnped
in the principal square of that city, with
stacked arms. The deserters tried to en-
list the sympathies of the remainder of the
regiment, stationed at Bezers, but failing
to do so they promised to eject them from
the barracks.
offered to Return.
Early this afternoon the subprefect of
Beziers notified Premier Clemenceau that
the mutineers had offered to return to Agde
on the condition that they were not pun
ished. A little later they renewed their de-
mand to be allowed to reoccupy their for
mer barracks at Bezers NJ. Clemenceau
CURLY replied that he refused to parley
with deserters or consider any proposal un-
less unconditional surrender, adding that
he was determined to utilize all the gov
ernments forces if necessary in order to
suppress the uprising.
Battalion Mutinies.
Details of the mutiny show that bat
TALON of the 18th Infantry Regiment. sent
from Beziers to Agde on account of the
soldiers sympathy with the local wine
growers, mutined there this morning, raid
ed the magazine, filled their pouches with
cartridges and with fixed bayOnets and
flags flying marched out of Agde and en-
tered Beziers. When notified of the mu-
tiny Gen. Croisade, commanding the 9th
Brigade, met the mutineers at Villeneuve
and attempted to persuade them to return
to duty.
Soldiers" he commanded, kill me or
obey me-"
sire to kill the general, but were determined
to return to BeZiers.
detachment of gendarmes tried to bar
the road, but after the mutineers had fired
volley in the air they were permitted to
pass.
A Military Spectacle.
The mutineers, although without officers,
marched into Beziers in perfect order at 6
O'Clock this morning, the cheers of the
local crowds mingling with the rolling of
the drums and the strains of the bugles.
After stacking the deserters an
nounced their intention to remain on the
square until allowed to reoccupy their bar
racks from whence they recently were
transferred. The people gave the mutineers
warm welcome and furnished them with
ample provisions and supplies of straw,
upon which the tired soldiers threw them
selves after stationing pckets and pro-
claiming their determination to defend their
lives in the event of being attacked.
The news of this momentous detection OF
troops, together with reports of other mutt
nous eruptions at various points in the re-
voting provinces, reached the government
this morning and caused the gravest con-
Germ. Premier Clemenceau Immediately
summoned cabinet meeting.
The Cities Quiet
At the ministry Of the interior at noon
inqUirers were informed that the reports
from Narbonne and Montpelier showed tina,
both cities were comparatively quiet.
A. . o'clock this morning it an
uuunced that the governments watch
word re manned The law must reign"
Interior Minister BRAND Indignantly de
MED the rumors that he has resigned. He
said he was not such coward as to de-
sert his colleagues in the present circum.
stances.
After the riotous events of yesterday the
aspect of Narboune today compare
lively calm Soldiers were everywhere il
such force that the inhabitants We're a
least temporarily coerced into inactivity
The wreckaGe resulting from last nights
riots still Htters the streets. and all III,
stores and banks are closed and barred up
Two additional regiments of infantry anC
two of cavalry arrived at Narbonne this
morning and attachments of artillery ar,
on their way there.
The authorities of Narbonne have issuec
orders that specific routes must be followed
by those attending the funerals of the rio
victims this afternoon. The routes will b.
entirely isolated by troops in the hope o
thus preventing dangerous demonstrations
The Governments Action.
The government was interpellated in tn
chamber of deputies today on the measure
which 1t proposed TO take in order to re
store order in the south. Premier CIemen
ceau in the course OF his reply. said tina
over 100 soldiers Were wounded in tn
lighting with rioters yesterday at Nor
bonnie. He then fully confirmed the dis
patches of the Associated Press in regar'
TO the mutiny of a battalion of the LTD
Infantry at Agde. and its march to Bezers
and said he could not listen to any propo
sition for the conditional surrender of tn
mBtneers The premier concluded by de
manding vote of confidence.