The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-06
DREYFUS' DEEP DISHOYOR.
The Convicted Captain Degraded Before
The Regiments.

rive Thousand Troops on the Parade
Ground CT the EcoIe Militaire as Spec
tators to the Ceremony-Ihe Buttons
and Insignia Of His Rank Torn From
his Uniform and His Sword Broken
in Two-Dreyfus Protests His Inno-
eence and the Crowd Cries Death to
the traitor
Paris. Jan. 5.-The formal degradation
of capt. Albert Dreyfus, recently sem
fenced to loss Of his military rank and
tide and confinement in a fortress for life
for having divulged government secrets,
took place at 9 o'clock this morning on
the parade ground of the Ecole AIilitaire
III. the presence of 5000 troops and num-
ber of newspaper reporters. 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 the service, and as they arrived
at the Ecole AIihtaire they took the posi-
tfons assigned to them. The weather was
clear and bright, but cold. At $50 o'clock
Gen. Darras, commanding the troops
arrived. He was assisted by Col. Fayette
and the major of the Paris garrison. The
troops formed a square facing the main en-
trance to the parade ground, where was
stationed band composed of drums and
bugles
The Thirty-ninth regiment, having Capt.
Dreyfus in charge was one Of the first
bodies of troops to arrive at the parade
grounds
At precisely o'clock the prisoner was
led out from the left wing Of the square.
He was accompanied by a squad of artil-
lary soldiers. He was pale but with
frm step marched with his sword in his
right hand to the center of the square,
where he was awaited by Gen. Darras. He
halted before the general and stood at
attention" The adjutant of the Republi-
can Guard then pronounced the verdict Of
the court martial which had condemned
Capt. Dreyfus. While the verdict was
being read Capt. Dreyfus flushed some
what, but otherwise showed no sign of los,
ing his composure. After the reading Of
the verdict Gen. Darras addressed the
prisoner, saying: 'Dreyfus, you are un-
worthy to carry arms. In the name of
the people of France, we degrade YOU
The adjutant then walked up to Capt.
Dreyfus and took from him his sword,
which, with a quick, sharp movement, he
broke across his knee casting the pieces
up0n the ground. He then cut the buttons
and insignia Of rank from the uniform
also upon the ground.
At this point Capt. Dreyfus was for a
moment moved by the sense Of his humill-
alton, but he quickly suppressed his emo
yon and shouted in loud voice: "Nive
"a France Continuing, he said: you
have degraded an innocent man. 1 swear
that / am innocent" He seemed about
70 speak further, but his voice was drown
ed by the rolling of drums, which was not
loud enough, however, to drown raging
snout from the crowd on the rear of the
soldiers, of "A mort lie traitre."
The ceremony up to this time had lasted
ioar minutes. The drums then beat and
me degraded man began his march along
tAe four sides of the square in what is
known as lie Parade De lie Execution
IAe scene was very impressive ana many
Oh the younger soldiers turned their heads
away. Capt. Dreyfus marched firm and
so1ierly, with quick, short pace, and
when he reached a. delegation of officers
ron the reserves, raised his and said:
Tel the whole of France that 1 am in
uocent"
Turning to the left from the position of
the reserve officers she came before the
members of the press, to whom he said in
urm voice: Il declare that I am inno-
cent"
The end Of the march was reached at
S'40 O'Clock, after which the condemned
man was taken to the barracks gate and
turned over to the civil authorities.
a large crowd of people had gathered at
eus entrance TO the parade ground, and
from among them came not one word
VI sympathy, but the cry Of "a morte lie
ud-,re' was taken up by them and re-
pealed until the miserable man was out
oi hearing of his tormentors.
Dreyfus was received from his escort
ds me barracks by four gendarmes, who
Aaced him in an ordinary prison van
az 5.SO o'clock the troops marched out
ol the parade ground en- route to their
respective quarters Workingmen who
We're hurrying down Rue Cherchemedi a
eolck this morning stopped for mo-
lAs4t 10 stare at the prison van surround
- by mounted soldiers, which was stand
.As outside the military prison, waiting
y convey Capt. Dreyfus to the Ecole
@ihtarie.
About 7;40 a. m. a veteran soldier, en-
ioy ca as a Janitor in the prison, threw
eaeA the iron gates and Capt. Dreyfus,
-e-Aed Dy two soldiers carrying guns,
WIN liked bayonets, walked out and hur-
-i1liy mounted the steps of the van,
4 ,i-aIehlng 10 the gates to the van between
mes OF republican guards The van
"Nch was driven by a trooper, took its
eourse across the Rue Dupin and down
i Ni1 hueS de Babylone and Distress
crossing the Avenue de Breteoil to the
S'idlalre, where it arrived at 1865 o'clock.
Il 1pt. Dreyfus mounted the van with per-
t5ct unconcern. He stood erect and his
Ieehs We're not whitened by the custom
1ly pallor of prisoners. His appearance
"es more like that of a man going on
l4fade than that of the prisoners con
s5hned to life Imprisonment and official
oesradation.
AS matter of preparation for stripping
L- prisoner of his insignia of rank etc,
~ PRISON tailor yesterday removed all
N0 buttons and stripes from Capt. Drey-
os tunic, the red stripes from his trous-
80 ana The regimental number and braid
I'm ms collar and cap. These were all
52lsced with single stitch, so that they
g'lid be torn away readily. The con-
G9Hhed mans sword was also filed almost
J"aln' IN order that it might be easily
soken The adjutant's quick movement
eHa apparent effort in breaking the sword
vas consequently mere pretense, as only
4 c. mere touch was necessary.
IS lne prison van sped through the
-5els the people stood on the sidewalks,
-l with uplifted hands, menaced and
L seq the unfortunate officer