Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-06

PARIS, Jan. 5.-The formal degradation of Capt. Albert Dreyfus, recently sentenced to deprivation of his military rank and title and confinement in the fortress for life for having diyulged government se- crets, took place at o'clock this morning on the parade ground of Ecole Militars in the presence of 5000 troops aud nun Der of newspaper reporters and others.
 Sometime before daylight detachments from all the regiments in the district of Paris were on the march to the parade grounds. These detachments comprised new recruits, veterans and men of all grades of service, and as they arrived at Ecole Militaire they took the positions as- signed to them. The weather was clear and bright, but cold.
 Al s3O a. m. General Darras, command Ing the troops, arrived. He was assisted by Colonel Fayette and mayor of Paris Gar rison. The troops formed square facing the main entrance to the parade ground, where was stationed a band composed of drums and bugles. The Thirty ninth reg ,ment, having Captain Dreyius in charge, was one of the first bodies of troops to arr rive at the parade ground. At precisely g o'clock the prisoner was led out from the left wing of the square. He was accom- panied by squad of artillery soldiers. He was pale, but with firm step marched, with his sword in his right hand, to the center of the square, where he was awaited by General Darras. He halted before the general and stood at "attention.''
 Tho adjutant of the Republican Guard then pronounced the verdict of the court martial which had condemned Captain Dreyfus. While the verdict was being read Captain Dreyfus flushed somewhat, but otherwise showed no sign of losing his composure.
 After reading the verdict General Darras addressed the prisoner, saying: 'Dreyfus, you are unworthy to carry arms. In the name of the people of France we degrade you.o The adjutaat then walked up to Dreyfus and took from him his sword, which, with quick, sharp movement, he broke across his knee, casting the pieces upon the ground. He then cut the buttons and insignia of rank from the uniform of the condemned captain and threw them also upon the ground.
 At this point Captain Dreyfus was for a moment moved by sense of bis humilia- tion, but he quickly suppressed his emo- tion and shouted in loud voice, 'sVive La France!p Continuing, he said: "You have degraded an innocent man. l swear that am innocent.o He seemed about to speak further. put his voice was drowed by the .rolii1, of drums, which was not loud enough, however, to drown the ring ing shout from the crowd ID the rear of the soldiers, "A mort le traitre!'
 The ceremony up to this time had lasted four minutes. The drums then beat, and
 
 four sides of thessquare in what is known as ie parade del execution. The scene was very impressive, and many of the younger soldiers turned their heads away. Captain Dreyfus marched firm and solderly, with quick, short pace, and when he reached the delegation of officers from the reserve, raised his hand and said: "Tell the whole of France that am innocent. Burning to the left from the position of the reserve officers, he came before the mem bers of the press, to whom he said in firm voice: ''I declare that 1 am innocent.o
 The end of the march was reached at 9:20, after which the condemned man was taken to the barracks gate and turned over 10 the civil authorities. A large crowd of people had gathered at the entrance to the parade ground, and from among them came not word of sympathy, but the cry, "A mort le traitre,' - was taken up by them and repeated until the miserable man was out of hearing of his tormenters
 Dreyfus was received from his escort at the barrack gate 3y four gendarmes, who placed him in sa ordinary prison van, and at 9 go o'clock the troops marched out of the parade ground en route 10 their respec- tive quarters.
 The workingmen who were hurrying down Rue Cherchemdi about O clock this morning stopped for moment to stare at the prison van, surrounded by mounted officers, which was standing outside the military prison waiting to convey Captain Dreyfus to Ecole MlIitaire,