The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-05
COUNT MUST FACE A COURT.
CONTINUED from First Page)

would end a polemic which had already
| lasted too long.
The Ccmte de Nun, the clerical leader,
| expressed regret at the fact that the min
lister fer war, Gen. Billot. was not present
| 70 defend the army, whose chief of staff
was attacked. This remark brought forth
| loud cheering and the session of the cham
Der was for a time suspended, while await
ing his arrival. he having been summoned
| 10 appear. When the minister arrived he
was soon placed in possession Of the facts
/ in the case, ana in his reply 10 the depu
! ties spoke in decidedly warm terms.
lie said: The premier has already told
! you that there was no such thing as the
| Dreyfus case. year ago. upon an inter-
! peilat.on by NJ. Casteln, the war minister
availed himself of the opportunity TO say
! Droyfus had been fairly tried aud unani-
mously condemned by seven of his cqauls
on the evidence of tWenty-seven officers.
THE government, when questioned few
days ago, declared through the minister Of
war that they considered Dreyfus had
been regularly and justly tried. For my
self in my soul and conscience, as a sol
der and chief of the army 1 regard the
sentence as just. Dreyfus is guilty"
applause.
The minister for war then repeated the
remarks of the premier concerning Count
Esterhazy, and the proceedings ended
with the generals expressed regret at the
fact that he had no means of dealing with
the "caiumnies against the chief of staff"
and begging the chamber to assist in
bringing the "odious campaign" 10 an
end.
Several resolutions were proposed That
OF NJ. Henri, republican, representing the
second division of Mont de Marsen, that
the chamber, declaring that it has no bus
mess 70 intervene in a question of judi
cial question, passes the order of the day
was rejected by "a vote of 147 to 1O2.
The Comte de Nuns motion that the
chamber is confident the government
will take steps to end the odious campaign
against the army" was defeated by 267 to
pa votes.
Count Esterhazy was born on Dec. 49,
1Sf. During the latter part of the empire
Count Esterhazy served in a regiment of
Papal zouaVes. After the declaring of
war between France and Prussia, accord
ing to one report, he entered a French
line regiment, and another version has it
being an Austrian, entered the foreign le-
gion.
Comte Esterhazy appears to have con-
Quoted himself in a brilliant manner for
he was soon promoted to the rank of second
lieutenant and in 1878 he was made lieu
tenant. He reached the rank of captain
in the following year. and in 1892 was pro-
noted to the rank of commandant, or chef
de battalion, corresponding with the rank
or major in other armies.
Early during the present year Count Es-
terhazy, who is a chevalier of the legion
of honor. retired from the ermy end went
to Italy in bad health But from the fact
that court martial has been ordered to
inquire into his case his name must still
be borne upon the French army lists.
Outside of any connection which Count
Esterhazy may or may not have had with
the Dreyfus scandals, he is said 10 have
admitted the authorship of letters recently
published in the Figaro. which alone would
seem to be sufficient for his trial by court
martial.
The next motion was that of Henry de
Lavert, republican, representing the dis
trict of Saint Yriez. 1t was in substance
that the chamber respecting the judg-
ment passed and sympathizing with the
homage offered to the army by the minister
of war, passed to the order of the day."
M. Meline supported this motion, and 1t
was giving priority by vote of 376 to 1872.
An amendment approving of the declara-
tons of the minister of war was adopted
by 1876 ayes, to 1873 noes. and another pro-
posed by M. Pierre Richard, former Bou-
langist, condemning those who are con-
Quoting an odious campaign" was adopt
ed, 154 of the deputies voting for the mo-
ton and n voting against it.
London, Dec. Especial dispatches re-
ceived here tonight from Paris say that
Count Esterha1y, who is charged VITA
having written the letter which led to the
imprisonment of former Capt Alfred
Dreyfus, and copies of whose alleged let.
tiers, rejecting upon the honor of high
French military officials, were recently
published by Figaro, is to be prosecuted
for forgery.