The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-25
DEATH FOR ARMY TRAITORS.
The DTeyiuS Case The Basis for a
Heated Debate.

Gen. Mercier Introduces Bill TO Infaiet
Capital Punishment for Treason-A
Socialist Deputy Antagonizes the Bill
and Works the Chamber Up to high
Pitch of Excitement-An Indignant
Denial Made by the German Embassy.
Paris. Dec. 24.-Gen. Mercler. minister of
war. introduced to-day in the Chamber OF
Deputies bill providing the death penalty
for such military traitors as Capt. Drey-
fus
Deputy Jaures. socialist. was delegated
by his party 10 demand the abolition of the
death penalty in the army. In the course
Of his attack upon the government he said
that Capt Dreyfus escaped the death sen
tence because the government feared the
consequences OF executing him.
Premier Puppy reproached NJ. Jaures for
voicing the theories Of international so
cialism on a subject which should appeal
to every Frenchman's loyalty.
You ara the internationalists." shouted
NJ. Jaures in'his reply. pointing TO the min
isters. You favor the internationlsm of
Hebrew capitalists whom you screen and
protect. Yet these Hebrew capitalists
whom you adopt as your wards are swind-
lers and scamps."
The chamber was brought up to high
pitch OF excitement by this harangue. The
socialists cheered approvingly.
The ministers interrupted the speaker
frequently with their protests. As Nj.
Jaures reached the climax Of his charges,
NJ. Barthou. minister of public works,
sprang to his feet, and shouted: You lie
and you know YOU lie"
NJ. Jaures' reply was drowned in a tumult
which was stilled after five minutes by the
presidents bell. There were many calls
for the censurlng of NJ. Jaures and even
tually NJ. Brisson, the president requested
him to retract his accusations.
NJ. Jaures refused fatty. He was CEN
sured by the president and expelled tempo
rariy from the chamber. The sitting was
adjourned IN confusion.
NJ. Jaures sent his seconds to Barthou
According to arrangements made by the
seconds, the Jaures- -Barthou duel will be
fought with pistols at % PAGES The duel
was the main topic Of discussion during
the intermission and the deputies were stn
talking Of the probable conditions when
the sitting was resumed.
The previous question was demanded by
the government as soon as the chamber
came to order and was carried against NJ
Jaures' proposal.
Alexander Millerand radical argued in a
listing law would enable the government
to punish Capt. Dreyfus with death.
Lawyer Levelle rep, denied this.
Eventually urgency was voted on the
Mercier bill.
Tho German embassy has issued a
note denying thai anybody connected with
II ever had direct or indirect relations
with Capt Dreyfus, or ever made an ef-
fort to have Capt Dreyfus tried in Ca
mera instead of in open court. This
sweeping denial is the German govern
ment's answer to the sentencing Of Capt
Dreyfus for alleged betrayal of French
military plans of the embassy in Paris
and to the violent attacks on the embassy
by the Paris press
The newspapers have continued to lay
the burden of Dreyfus' treason at Count
Rluensters door despite his protests to NJ
HanotauX against their charges In the
last few days they have reiterated with
great positiveness that Count Muenster
interfered to secure a secret trial so as
to keep from the general public the fact
that the prosecution was based upon an
incriminating letter taken from the em-
bassy. The German note closed with the
declaration that "all such statements are
malicious fabrications."
New York. Dec. 2i.-The Herald this
morning prints the following special cable
from Paris: Following is the text of
the document 1Ound- at the German EN-
bassy, which caused the conviction Of
Capt. Dreyfus: Having no news from
you. I do not know what to do. 1 send
you in the meanwhile the condition of the
forts. / also hand you the principal pas
sages of the firing instructions. If you
desire the rest / will have then copied.
The document is precious instruction and
has been given only to officers of the
general staff ! leave for the manuevers.'
After the words condition of the forts
there were three lines, beginning with
figures, which had been cut out. There
was no address or signature. The docu-
ment was photographed and enlarged. The
deposition of DR.. Berillon, chief of the
anthropometric bureau, as to the COM
parison Of this document with the hand
writing Of Capt. Dreyfus was the only evi-
dence in favor Of the accused Capt. Drey-
fus denied to the last moment that he
wrote the letter, and still denies it. His
friends say that he Is innocent. They as
sert that before he was arrested he re-
fused to go to the army in Africa, as the
minister of war offered to send him, be-
cause, as he said at the time, he had
done nothing for which he could reproach
himself. Public opinion is very greatly
excited over the case and regrets are ex-
pressed by many that Capt. Dreyfus has
not been sentenced to death"