The record-union., 1897-12-05
Only Topic Attracting Attention at
Gay Paris Now.
Newspapers Degoting Endless Columns TO
the Sensational Affair.
Everyone Seems to Be Mixed Up in
the Case, From the Pope to the
Emperor of Germany, and Syn
dicates and Secret Societies Are
Said to be Spending Millions
on One Side or the Other.

on One Side or the Other.
PARIS, Dec. t Copyrighted. 1897. by
the Associated Press).-Au political and
social interests continue to be lnerged
IN the case of Alfred Dreyfus. the for
mer Captain of French Artillery, who
is alleged to have been unjustly SEN
fenced TO Imprisonment for life on the
charge Of having sold important plans
OF the French War Department TO
/ agents of foreign Power. Everything
else is neglected, from the famous Rus
san military band. which has been Civ
ms concerts to small audiences, to the
booksellers. who complain that no one
reads anything but the newspapers.
The newspapers still devote endless
columns in the biggest type To the af-
fairs of Dreyfus, his friends and enemies
| and everybody in any way connected
with the case. The conductor of a train
which brought Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone
To Paris. on their way to the south of
France, thought they We're to appear as
| Witnesses in the case. This illustrated
! how Paris is absorbed in the matter.
! Everybody seems to be mixed up in the
| case, from the Pope 10 Emperor VIII
| lam of Germany, and syndicates and
secret societies are said to be hard at
work spending millions on one side or
the other, and all France is agitated.
The Daily Telegraph" of London ON
Thursday last, copies of which paper
have been passed around here by those
interested in the subject, says:
Undoubtedly some person or persons
did get very important facts regarding
our 0he French) military plans, and
communicated them to the German War
| Office within a fortnight after the decis-
ions in question had been taken If the
extent to which this odious crime was
committed, and the results 1t has pro-
| duced in a neighboring country, were
! fully made known. i doubt whether,
knowing my countrymen as / do, they
| would remain satisfied with the punish
ment of one man. They would call for
| d radical change in the entire system,
| and possibly for more. This guilt may
be brought home to another or to others.
without necessarily establishing the in
nocence of Dreyfus, who is lost beyond
help and hope"
The military Governor of Paris, Cen
eral Saussier, has ordered the forma-
| ton of a court t-martial TO examine INTO
the charges brought against Count Fer
!
Major of the French army, who is ac-
cused of writing the letter which be-
came public about the sentencing of
Dreyfus to Imprisonment for life). who
is alleged to have admitted the author
ship of letters published in the FIJI
garo" recently bitterly rejecting upon
France and the French army.
The Journal" says that the decision
Of General Saussier is based on the re-
port of General PelieuX, who was ap-
| pointed by the Minister of War to ex-
anime into the charges brought against
Count Esterhazy.
| This evening a brief official announce
ment was given out as follows: "Gener-
al Saussier has ordered a court martial
| to be instituted for an investigation into
the affair of Major Esterhazy."
| The preliminary inquiry into the case
of the Esterhazy affair will be made
by the military prosecutor attached to
the court martial, according TO the
French custom, with the view of de-
termining whether the charges war
rant a court martial.
People are now eagerly discussing
whether the court-martial, if ordered,
Will be secret or public. The prelimi-
naries are always private, but there is
great public opposition to the court
martial taking place in private, and the
French officials also believe to be in
fear of a repetition of the unpopular
phases of the Dreyfus trial
The case of Dreyfus was discussed in
the Chamber of Deputies to-day, and
| occasionally gave rise to heated utter
ances. A good majority Of the Depu-
ties, however. sustained the stand in
IA, r.
Seven resolutions were proposed.
That of NJ Henry Kumel, Republican,
representing the second division of
Monte de Masen, that the Chamber.
declaring it has no business to inter-
vene in question of judicial charac-
ter, passed to the order Of the day."
was rejected by vote of 14I to 102
The Comte de Nuns motion, that
the Chamber is confident the Govern
nent will take steps TO end the odious
campaign against the army" was de-
feated by vote of 262 to 244.
The next motion was of NJ Henri de
Lavertujon, representing the district of
Santi Yirex. 1t was in substance, that
the Chamber, respecting a Judgment
passed, and sympathizing with the
homage rendered to the army by the
Minister of War; passes the order of
the day.
NJ. Meline, the Premier. supported
this resolution. and it was accorded pri-
ority by vote of 373 to 126.
The first section was adopted with the
vote standing 400 to Is. and the Sec
ond section was adopted by 523 to Is
votes.
An amendment approving of the dec
laration of the Minister of War was
adopted by 80 ayes TO 133 noes. and
another, proposed by N. Pierre Rich
ard. former Boulangist, condemning
"those who are conducting an odious
campaign" was adopted, 154 of the
Deputies voting for the motion and ~
voting against 1t.