, 1891-06-24

SO OOAA NS
Such is the gist of an affair in which' thigh
treason" and other words of similar i'm
port are used lavishly, but the upshot so
far is that both the accuser and the accused
are at this moment under lock and key. 1t
should be added, however, that, in the
opinion of the War Office authorities, the
national defence has been in no way com-
promised, even if the charges, brought
against M. TripOne turn out to be we'll
founded which IS by no means demonstrated.
On the contrary, it is stated here that after
NJ. Turpin's invention had been rejected by
the French Government it met with a SINH
lar fate in England and Italy.
From what I hear tonight, on excellent
authority, it is quite true that NJ. Tripone
was the agent here Of Armstrong; establish
ment. 1t was he who introduced NJ. Turpin
to the firm. M. Turpin had endeavoured
to induce the French War Office to adopt
his invention, but at last General Boulanger
decided on rejecting his offer. He after
wards, with the sanction of NJ. de Freycinet
addressed himself to Armstrong; house,
and it was agreed that if The experiments
were satisfactory, and the invention proved
as important as it was represented to be, be
should be paid 100000 for it. The expert
ments were commenced, but after q time
NJ. Turpin seemed inclined to back out of
the arrangement, and at last the negotia-
tons were broken off. Subsequently NJ.
Turpin brought various charges against NJ.
Tripone, and an investigation was privately
held by a commission composed of French
Generals who came to the conclusion that
there was no foundation for these accusa-
tons. lam assured, indeed, that after M.
Turpin had been placed in communication
with Armstrong establishment it was be
alone who took part in the experiments and
the negotiations, so that there was not the
slightest pretext for representing NJ. Tri-
pone as having then had any prominent
share in the affair. The motives which
have led M. Turpin to reiterate his charg-
es against NJ. Tripone at this juncture' are,
rs a matter Of fact, not easily to be under-
stood. The assertion hat other valuable
secrets were communicated will .:l0t, ac-
cording to my authority. hold water for q
moment. The French War Office had the
first offer, and then on it's rejection NJ.
Turpin was freed to enter into negotiations
with Armstrong; house. Indeed, it is pre-
sumed that if NJ. Gerville R6ache bad not
come forward at this j~unCture with his so
called revelation respecting the SmokeiesS
powder and the purchase of the two guns
the people would have heard nothing Of the
affair. At any rate there is not the least
reason for any display OF excitement as
owing to the progress achieved since NJ.
Turpin entered into negotiations with
Armstrong's firm the alleged secrets do not
now possess the value with which they
might have been invested at that date. The
various improvements constantly Introduce
ed soon render an invention more or less
obsolete. Indeed, I I'm assured that the
Importance of the whole affair has been
exaggerated to a ridiculous extent and this
confirms the remark which l had already
made that even if the charges bron ght by
NJ. Turpin against NJ. Tripone had any
foundation in fact, the War Office would re-
gard the whole business with the utmost
compOsure, as the interest OF the national
defence would not be in any degree COM
promised.
Mr.. Turpin explicitly states in his book
that M. Tripone made many patriotic as
severations to him, but at the same time
advised him to obtain some profit from his
invention. The book also deals with the
negotiations carried on at Newcastle with
Captain Noble and experiments made near
Folkestone in 1888. NJ. Tripone was arrest
ed at his private residence, Boulevard
d'Argenson, Neuilly. The book Comment
on a vendu la M6linite," written by M.
Turpin, was seized on the premises OF the
publisher of the volume; the author was
arrested in his chateau at Bots des Colon
bes by the local Commissary of Police last
avenino on rntnrninp home TO dinner. He