The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-04
Captain DreyfuS Escapes
From Confinement.
Was Taken From Isle du Grand
Saint in a Schooner.
The Prisoners Wife Believed TO
Have Planned the Escape.

the British steamship Nonpareil, which
is at Newport. Monmouthshire. from
Cayenne. French Guiana. reports that
Captain Albert Dreyfus, formerly OF the
French army and attached to the min
istry for war who was sentenced TO be
publicly degraded and confined for life
in a fortress, after having been convicted
by a court-martial of selling plans
OF French fortihcations, mobilization
schemes, etc, 10 a foreign government.
has escaped from the Isle du Grand
Saint. where he was taken after leaving
the Isle de Re, Off the French coast.
Captain Hunter is quoted as saying
that Captain Dreyfus escaped on board
an American schooner, with the help OF
his wife. who, at the urgent request OF
the prisoner, had received permission
from the French government TO join him
a; his place OF imprisonment Dreyfus
and his wife have probably reached the
United States.
The arrest of Albert Dreyfus. in Oc-
tober, 1894. caused a sensation through
out France. and IL found an echo in
Berlin, which. at one time. threatened
20 have serio~ consequences. The as
scrtion that Dreyfus sold the plans of
various strongly fortified places TO the
German government has been vigorous
Iy denied by representatives OF that ma
tion. Similarly it has been claimed and
denied that the plans referred to were
sold TO an agent of the Italian govern
ment. The plans which Dreyfus is al
legged TO have disclosed include those re-
lating To the mobilization of the French
army In case of war. plans for the mobili-
zation of the Fifteenth Army Corps. COW
= a
Alps Ardeche, Bouches du Rhone Cor
sica. Gard. Var, Vauclu and Marseillcs.
as well as the plans for mobilizing the
French forces around Briancon, the
Alpine Gibraltar near the Italian from
tier. The fortress of Briancon, which,
connected by underground galleries with
outlying fortihcations and with the town
itself is a most important place, in view
upon the part Of Italy.
Dreyfus is of Decentralization extrac-
ton. lie was born in 1859 at Mulhouse.
where his brothers own a large cotton
spinning factory. He was educated at
the Polytechnic school. and in 1880 en-
tered the army as sub-lieutenant, and in
1859 he was promoted to the rank Of cap
tain. After time Dreyfus was appoint
eral staff. which office contains the only
really secret documents of the war office.
such as the mobilization arrangements
and the details for the dispatch and con-
oentration of troops in the event of war.
The case eventually caused many very
bitter public statements against Ger
many, and late in November an import
ant interview is said to have taken place
- ~.
ister of foreign affairs, and Count Won
Munster, the German ambassador at
Paris. The German ambassador is said
TO have informed NJ. Hanotaux that he
was aware that the evidence against
Captain Dreyfus consisted Of certain
documents and letters which had been
stolen from the desk of the military at
tache OF the German embassy in Paris,
and that the papers therefore. had been
obtained by direct violation OF diplo-
matte rights. 1t is also said that Count
Won Munster was directed by his gov
ernment to demand the return of these
documents. and that no use be made OF
their contents against the prisoner, un-
der penalty Of severance of diplomatic
relations between Germany and France.
The court-martial of Captain Dreyfus
fur was found guilty and sentenced To be
deported for life and to be interned in
fortress.
Dreyfus was publicly degraded in the
most dramatic manner before the Paris
garrison. lie was conducted to the
square in front of the military school,
and was led before General d'Arras, who
was in command of the troops, and the
90 ~ ,af,f Ial
TO the prisoner The general then briefly
addressed Dreyfus, saying:
You are adJudged unworthy to bear
arms. In the name of the French people,
degrade you"
General d'Arras then gave sharp
word OF command. and non commits
stoned officer OF the Republican Guard
approached Dreyfus, the infantry pre-.
sented arms, the cavalry presented
swords, and there was long. solemn
roll from the massed drum corps. Drey-
fus started back as the non-commis-
stoned officer touched him. and shouted:
II am innocent! / swear It! Vive la
France"
The non commissioned officer then tore
off Dreyfus' epaulettes and all the other
distinctive marks Of his rank as n cap
tain OF artillery. ending with breaking
the prisoner'J sword I'm two. and throw
ing the two halves at his feet. Dreyfus
was then marched, bareheaded, around
the entire square, in front Of the troops
He was greatly excited, and shouted
more than once:
II am innocent! swear H."
But every time the prisoner spoke, In
accordance with orders previously is
sued, his voice was drowned by the roll
OF drums.
The troops then marched back to their
vnrious barracks. the crowds outside the
military school cheering each Getach-
mcnt, and shouting:
In Patre!"