The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

INTO four parts and then thrown into the
waste-paper basket, thence finding its
way into the garbage can. whence the
Government detective is supposed to have
tshed it.
In passing it should be mentioned that
the material on which il was written was
unlike the paper invariably used by Cap
tain Dreyius for his correspondence. a
fragment OF the Photographic copy of this
memorandum Is reproduced in another
column, together with specimen of the
writing of Captain Dreyius. The memoir
anGum read as follows:
Without any news to indicate that you wish
to see me, l send you meanwhile, Monsieur,
several interesting documents of information
1. note on the hydraulic cannon brake of
che 12eth and how il behaved at the man
euyers.
. y note on the troops of cover. Several
modifcat tons Will be y a1e by the new plan)
3 A note on the mod fcalion of the artil-
lery fOrma tions.
4 note relative TO Madagascar.
5. The plan of the field artillery, fixing
manual. OATH March, 1894
This last document is extremely difficult to
procure ana can have il at my disposal only
few days. The Minister OF War has sent a
responsible tor them. Each officer having on
must return it after The muneuvers. So then
you may, il you like, extract from il
whatever is of interest, and hold the docu-
ment subject to my order, unless you desire
tina. I make a Ply in exienso and send il
10 you.
am about to start for the maneuvers
This memorandum had no signature.
After comparing the chirography of the
memorandum with the individual filings
# the department suspicion was finally
centered on Captain Dreyfus. General
Boisdefire, chief of the major general S
staff 5 said 10 have sheen placed in pos
session OF facts that more Than confirmed
the belief of himself, BertiIlon and Gen
| eral MERCER that The artillery captain at
tached to the fourth bureau of the depart
ment was the culprit. Whatever may
| have baen the nature or Specifications oil
these corroborative charges they have not
! been made public.
Then a plan essentially Frenchy in its
conception and deductions was adopted
to test the CORE ctness of the presum ption
that Dceyfus was the guilty man. The
captain was summoned by General Bots
deffre TO appear a. his office at o'clock,
October l6 1894 Dreyfus arrived prom pity
as ordered, but instead of meeting the
chief of staff he found himself in the pres
ence of Commandant MERCER du Patty dc
Clam, attache of the third bureau of the
| War Department, who had been detailed
to carry on The inquiry precedent TO the
filing of indictment. The commandant,
pretending that he suffered from an
abscess on the right hand, had it wrapped
up IN linen bandages.
Il am very happy to see you, my
dear comrade," was his affable saluta.
ton. "It you don't mind We will &C
out together alter a while. Meantime
have q communication TO write, and, as
you see, | am not able to write with this
disabled hand. Would you kindly act a:
my secretary and frame for me letter
have to send to General Boisdeffre on the
subject of some documents which 1 wist
to get from him?"
"Very cheerfully," said Dreyfus, ant
seated himself at the desk to take tn,
commandments dictation. The latter
with the Photographic copy OF the recov.
cred memorandum, began to dictate a,
| follows:
Having the gravest concern for tn,
immediate return of the document
which | allowed TO go to you prior to m,
departure for the maneuvers, beg of yor
to hand them over 10 tho bearer, who is ,
trustworthy person 1 will remind Vol
that they are:
1. note on The hydraulic cannon brak,
and how II behaved at the maneuvers.
2. A note on the troops.
3. A note on tie notifications of the artil
ery practice. Several notifications will b,
made by the new plan.)
a. mole relative to Madagascar
At this point Dreyius, according to III,
testimony of the commandant. began Il
shudder convulsively, and rose brusquely
to his feet. As further proof of tn,
terror supposed to have seized him tn,
court martial took cognizance OF IN,
blurred ending OF the word Madagascar.
why don't you write p asked the com
mandant.
! The captain attempted to resume hi