The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-02-15
FRENCH SCHOOL
MA'AM DISLOYAL
Arrest Uncovers a Widespread
AntimiIitarist Plot.
breaches CLASS HATRED


man Quarters in Switzerland
Masses of Seditious Literature Is
Found in Her Possession.
The arrest at Pantin recently OF
Helene Brion, primary public schooi
teacher, on the charge of spreading
paci6st peace at any price, anarchist
propaganda, has uncovered what seems
to be a much raniied antimilitarist
plot, writes Milton Y. Snyder, Paris
correspondent of the New York Sun.
Through this arrest and others now
pending the authorities have discov-
cred that despite the. real patriotism of
90 Der cent of the people of France
aeaven of unrest has been working
among, oddly enough, a small percent
age Of the class whose duty 1t is to
preach loyalty 10 the government, the
public school teachers.
On October 25, 1917, a. m, and
Nine. MayouX, both government in
SSyuctors at Dignac, were arrested and
found guilty of spreading antipatriotic,
alarniSt propaganda. They were re-
manded for further hearing either be-
fore the Bordeaux court of appeals or
before a military court-martial. The
Mayouxs were found to be in commu-
nication with Helene BriOn, who had
been under police surveillance. Her
room was searched last August and De-
cause of the Seditious literature found
among her effects she was suspended
from her duties as teacher. Despite
this circumstance she continued to
draw her salary.
Urged Soldiers to Desert.
Other documents found We're pam
.ph}ets urging soldiers to desert and a
voIuminous correspondence with the
MayouKs that was really responsible
for that couples arrest. There also
were detailed accounts and eulogistic
comments on the Zimmerwald and
Nenfhal pacifist conferences, also va
sfious subscription lists for the propa-
cation. of the peace at any price idea
in France.
At the same time that Helene Br-
on's quarters were ranSacked search
was made at the home Of two other
suspects, both of whom have since
been arrested: Nine. Dufour, q teacher
AT Joigny. and CASTOR Moufiard, twice
wounded at the front and lately called
&c duty in munitions factory. Sedi-
eTfeas literature was found among their
belongings, likewise quantity OF
paper butterflies bearing anarchistic,
antimllitarist texts, preaching class
hatred, resistance to military orders,
peace at any price and the call for
"a general revolution.
I'll this printed matter came from
Lausanne and Geneva, where it was
published by committee created for
the reopening of international rela-
4i0ns-a committee Of which the May
~ouxs end Helene Sp:on were active
laembers. From letters seized in the
quarters of these pacifsts it was
shown that in 1915, acting together.
they succeeded in getting their un-
wholesome literature into the hands
of a great many soldiers at the front.
=. A Jealous erapagandist.
+; Helene Brion was particularly
jealous propagandist in pacifst cir
,cles. In all the suburbs north and
northeast Of Paris-at Saint Denis,
Aubervilliers, Pre-Saint-Gervais-the
liiacs-she was known for the violence
yof he. antipatriotic sentiments that
she never missed chance to express.
The marvel has been that notwith-
standing her ideas aud her incessant
activities she was free from police IN
serference and permitted to continue
her insidious campaign for months.
Her pet theories We're Malthusian,
,qlefea;:st, antimilitarist and anarchist.
and she was member Of several
revolutionary groups, treasurer or
feminist association and to cap the
ie,jznax. government public school
teacher.
Helene Rrion always dresses in mems
clothes. which are partly concealed D!
"a bong white workman's blouse. She
often went about the streets carrying
"a sasder on her back, paste pot IN
sher hand and under her arm bundle
of posters-notices Of labor union
meetings-which she used to paste On
blank walls. Last winter. during the
goal distribution difficulties. she in
cited the workwomen Of her quarter
10 revolution.
on August /. 1914, she was heard to
nexclaim in the courtyard OF her
s5csool;
I'D like to set fire to the ministry
fot var
Sir spent the first Sunday. Monday
acc 7.raesday of mobilization in Paris
.an& s.ame back to Pantin, declaring
81 v..nder I wasn't arrested! GER
,tainIy didn't hesitate to shout in tine
sfreets what I thought Of the govern