Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-05
FIRST OF GAIT. DREYFUS PUNISHMENT
PROTESTS

PARIS, January 5.-Capt. Alfred Dreyfus
of the fourteenth regiment of artillery, who
was tried by court-martial, convicted OF
treason in disclosing important war office
documents to. foreigners and sentenced to
department and imprisonment for life in a
fortress. was publicly degraded this morn
ing in front OF the military school Of this
city.
Capt. Dreyfus slept well and was awaken
ed at O'Clock in the morning, when he
was informed that this was the day fixed
for his degradation in public. He displayed
no emotion until he was dressed in the full
uniform of his rank and prepared to leave
the Cherche-Midf prison for the military
school. He then turned deathly pale and
his hands shook as he signed the prison
register.
When this formality was gone through.
two gendarmes, with revolvers in their
hands, escorted him to closed military
wagon, drawn by four horses and escorted
by troop of mounted republican guards.
In this wagon, surrounded by the guards
with drawn swords, Dreyfus was driven
to the military school The route between
the prison and the school was lined by
many thousands of spectators, and a large
crowd of people was gathered about the
military school, which is a large establish
ment near the Invalides, and covers an
area of about twenty-six acres.
Behind the school is the Place De Fon-
tenoy, upon which is a handsome monu-
ment, erected In memory of the soldiers
and sailors who fell in the war of 1901.
Greeted With Kisses and GrOans.
The arrival at the school Of two outriders
who preceded the wagon caused intense
excitement among the persons there as
sembled, and here and there groans and
Kisses were heard as the wagon passed
When Dreyfus arrived at the military
school he was placed in improvised
cell. and detchments from every branch
on the Place De Fontenoy, and by am.
fully 5000 troops were ranged around the
quadrangle.
At 9 o'clock Dreyfus was conducted to
the square and was led before Gen. OAR
ras. who was in command of the troops,
and the sentence Of The court-martial was
read to the prisoner.
The general then briefly addressed
Dreyfus, saying: You are adjudged un-
worthy to bear arms IL the name of the
French people 1 degrade YOU
General D'Arras then gave a sharp word
of command. and non-commfSsioned om-
Ger approached Dreyfus. the infantry pre-
scented arms, the cavalry presented swords
and there was. a long solemn roll from
the massed drum corps. :
Dreyfus started back as the non-corlmis-
stoned officer touched him and shouted:
Il am innocent. I swear 1t. Vfve la
Franoe!' -E.
Broke the Prisoners sword.
The non-commissioned officer then tore
off Dreyfus' epaulettes and all the other
distinct marks of his rank as a captain of
artillery, ending up with breaking the pris-
oner's sword In two and throwing the two
halves at his feet
Dreyfus was then marched, bareheaded
around the entire square, N front of the
Troops. He was greatly excited and shout
ed more than once: Il am innocent. l
swear it,
But every time the prisoner spoke in ac-
cordance with orders previously issued, his
voice was drowned by the roll of drums.
AS Dreyfus passed in front of the place
press he shouted Tell the whole of France
that am innocent"
This caused some officers of the army re-
serve, who were standing by. to retort:
Down with Judas. Silence, traitor"
1t was evident that DrevfuS felt these
words keenly, for he turned sharply around
and faced the officers in a threatening man
ner. But before he could say or do any
who were escorting him and forced to con-
tinue his humilia ting march around the
square. 80
Tine crowd outside the school, on hearing
the prisoners voice when he protested his
innocence, raised fierce cries of Death to
the traitor. Death to the traitor
These cries of the populace were accom-
panied by the shrill whistling peculiar to
a Partisan mob.
When the proceedings were ended Drey
fus was handcuffed, taken to a prison van
and driven to an ordinary prison, escorted
by squad of gendarmes.
The troops then marched back to their
various barracks, the crowds outside the
military school cheering each detachment.
and shouting: "Vive la France! Vive
Farmee! Vive la patrie"'
On the other hand. the sight of the
prison van, which was driven rapidly
through the crowds. evoked renewed cries
of Death TO the traitor! Death to the
Germ an"
1t is expected that Capt Dreyfus will be
informed in the lies Du Salut, off the coast
of French Guinea, South America, which
will be converted into penal settlement.