The record-union., 1898-09-01

Another report is that the Minister OF
War has declared that he intended to
compel the resignation Of the chief OF
the general staff, General Boisdeffre,
and his subordinate, M. Gonz, because
in two years personal investigation
they had not succeeded IL discovering
the forgery and led successive War
Ministers to pledge themselves to the
genuineness Of the documents.
The Temps" this afternoon asserts
that the disclosures made to the Min
listers to-day have decided the Minister
Of War to place Major Count Esterhazy
on the retired list.
BOISDEFFRE RESIGNS.
General LIE Mouton de Boisdeffre,
chief of the general staff of the French
army, has rendered his resignation to
the Government General De Bos-
deffre, in his letter of resignation, ex-
plains that he resigned owing to his
misplaced confidence in Lieutenant
Colonel Henry, which led him to pre-
sent as genuine what was forged evil
dence.
M. Cavignac, the Minister of War.
in reply, asked General Boisdeffre to
remain Ito see justice rendered in the
| matter"
General De Boisdeffre thanked M.
Cavignac for proofs of his esteem, but
persisted in his resignation. He will
be replaced, therefore, by General
Renourd director of the Military Col
lege.
HENRY COMMITS SUICIDE.
Late this evening Lieutenant Colonel
Henry committed suicide. Henry cut
his throat with a razor he had con-
cealed in his valise. During the late
Zola trial Henry accused Colonel Pic
quart of falsifying kilograms. A duel
| followed, in which Henry was wound
ed The next scene occurred in the
Chamber of Deputies, where Colonel
| Picquart proclaimed the letter for
gerry, and as a result was arrested,
while Henry's villany was rewarded
by his being appointed Colonel Pic
quarts successor in the Intelligence
Department
1t is now evident that Henry forged
the letter with the express object of
exposing Major EsterhaZy, and to get
a revision of the Dreyfus case. The
| letter was written in bad French, a
fact which first led it to be regarded
as spurious. 1t is said that if the
Cabinet decides upon revision of the
Dreyfus case, NJ. Cavignac, Minister
fer War, will resign.
The scene of Lieutenant Colonel Hen
rvs avowal was most painful. When
he saw it was almost useless to deny
further his tongue grew so thick in
his mouth that he was unable to speak.
1t was feared that he would have an
apopletic stroke. After his arrest he
was permitted to visit his wife while
on the way to the fortress at Montval-
erien. She thought he really had fit.
He addressed her as My poor wife, y
adding: Il am under arrest.
The officer accompanying him was
under orders not to lose sight of him
for a moment, and therefore he could
not see his wife alone. All three pro-
ceeded to his bedroom to get the nee
essary clothing Henry then clasped
his wife in his arms and exclaimed:
! My conscience is pure, and free from
every sting"
This exclamation is much commented
upon, as going to show that ne may
possibly have forged the letter under
orders from his superior.
The Cabinet has held two stormy
S1ttlngS under the presidency Oh NJ
Faure 1t finally arose between and
I o'clock. having apparently failed to
arrive at a decision on the question of
revising the Dreyfus sentence, for the
customary official note was not issued.
1t is possible, however, looking to the
excited state of public feeling, that the
Government deems it advisable to pro-
ceed cautiously, and to conceal its deci-
sion for the present.