Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-14
Department Of Marne Appears
One Great Armed Camp.
Open Defiance Of Soldiers and
SabreS Frequently Used.
Growers in Possession Of venteuiI
and Have Built Barbados.

RhelmS, France, April l3.-Each day
| the riotous demonstrations in the
grape growing region of the Depart
| ment of Marine, which began Tuesday
| following the action of the Senate in
adopting resolution favoring the sup
| preston of the territorial delimitations
of the wine producing area. grow more
serious and the government is taking
severe measures To quell the outbreak.
Piilage and the destruction of property
is going on to an alarming extent
throughout the disturbed area and the
sky is darkened by the smoke from
the smouldering ruins of the burned
and sacked wine property. Millions of
bottles of champagne already have
been destroyed.
Troops estimated to number 1900
men haze been concentrated in the De-
partment of Marne, which region re-
sembles a great armed camp. The sol
ders are being openly defied and on
several occasions have been COM
PEELED to charge with drawn sabres
before the rioters were dispersed. At
Niney the troops were actually held at
bay while the mob of hundreds OF
frenzied wine growers sacked and
burned wine presses and large
amount of stores
\ courier arriving here today from Ven
teui, wine depot in the department of
Marne, says that an overwhelming force
Of troops today occupied that town with
out bloodshed There was considerable
rioting yesterday at Venteul, a detach-
mcnt of gendarmes being compelled to
use their sabres before the mob which
had destroyed several large wine presses
could be dispersed.
Advices received by courier early in the
day from Nenteuil indicated that the sit
uation at that town was critical The
rioters for a time were in absolute pos
session of the town and had erected
strong barricades. According to these
courier advices the manifestants had cut
the telephone and telegraph wires and
the town was isolated Orders had been
given to the military to take the town by
storm at whatever cost should the rioters
refuse to surrender
1t is estimated that 5000 000 bottles of
champagne were destroyed during yester-
days disturbances at Mousey, near Eper-
nay
Excitement throughout the disturbed
region is at fever heat. The wine growers
| threaten to extend their operations to
shops, which they declare will be demol-
! ished if the merchants distribute pro-
visions among the troops
At Reui "A hail of revolver shots was
fired at a patrol of dragons. but no one
was hit.
Eparnay, Department of Marne.
France. April 1S.-Despite the fact that
the Department of Name is 2 vast
armed camp, with infantrymen and
| dragons bivouacked throughout the
night at almost every village in the
! champagne district, renewed rioting
broke out today and the flame of anger
and vengeance continues to sweep tie
! grape-eroWing region. The disorders
began last Tuesday, following the sup
| preston of all territorial delimitations
| of the grape growing region. The dis
orders began last Tuesday. following
| the adoption of resolution by the
| Senate favoring the suppression of all
territorial delimitations of the grape
| growing area, which greatly eXasper-
| ated the people.
\ At Vinay the rioters hastily threw
/ I'D barricades with barrels, cases and
L debris OF all sorts, and succeeded In
Il holding back the advancing troopers,
/ While another group of manitestants
armed with torches entered the vast
i champagne depot.
The mob smashed all the bottles OF
champagne they could find. wrecked
the wine presses and then set fire to
! the buildings.
Women were foremost in the work
of destruction, chanting snatches oi
| revolutionary airs and urging the mon
/ on in the work of destroying the wine
Il property. When the troops reached
Il Vinay the women lay down on the
Il roads and defied the cavalry TO ride
II over them Eventually the troops sue
Il ceeded in getting control of the sltu-
alton and dispersed the manifestants.
II At dawn many places in the wine
/ growing districts showed the horlZen
| darknned by the smoking ruins OF
| wine denots burned during the night
i AT the same time exploding detona-
Il tors summoned additional wine MAX
Il ers to the different rallying points for
Il the purpose Of resuming their march
| of destruction.
| Troops are arriving at Epernay on
| every train and Immediately on de-
! training the soldiers are dispatched to
Continued on Page Twelve.)