The San Francisco call., 1898-01-14
Novelist Emile ZOla Will Be Prosecuted by
 the State.
Outcome Of His Attack Upon the Army in a Letter to
 FauPe.
Chamber Of Deputies Passes a ResO- luton Declaring Confidence in
 the Government
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PARIS, Jan. 13.-Count de Nun, the Clerical leader, caused excitement in the Chamber of Deputies to-day when he asked to be allowed to question the Government on the subject of Emile Zola's open letter to President Faure. NJ. Colberry caused an uproar by reply ing that the absence of General Billet compelled a postponement of discus sion. Count de Nun declared that the question was one that could not be put off
 Loud protests greeted Nj. Cocherys S announcement that the Government proposed to fix a day for the debate and the Minister finally agreed to sus- pend the session until General Billot could be present.
 When the session was resumed the Premier, M. Moline, made a statement, saying in substance:
 We understand the excitement in the Chamber in the presence of the at tack on the chiefs of the army, The Government recognizing their duty. have decided to prosecute M. Zola, al- though they are not blind to the fact that the prosecution is desired in order to prolong the agitation. It is to be hoped the Chamber will have confi- dence in the energy and wisdom of the Government"
 Count de Nun said the Government owed it to the army that 1t be assured of its confidence, as it was impossible to allow the accumulation of insults and attacks.
 General Elliot said this was the fourth time he had been called upon to defend a matter upon which judg- ment had already been passed The army, he added, treated the attacks with contempt, but it was painful to see it attacked from abroad. The army ] was composedly pursuing its mission, and in the day of need would know how ] to do it's duty. (Applause.) M. Jaures, the Socialist leader, con- demned the court-martial proceedings l behind closed doors, which he asserted. left the mind of the nation groping in ] obscurity." He also asked the House not to repudiate the subordination of 1 the military to the civil power. To this General Elliot replied:
 The army obeys its chief. and, as 1 the faithful guardian of republican in- stftutions, pursues its sacred mission 1 Nj. Cavaignac. Republican. asked the ] Government to communicate to the House the secret document which had ] determined the condemnation of Drey- i fus, which caused murmuring. M. Me i line said it was impossible to reopen before the Chamber the case already l judged by courtmartial. i The House rejected the motion of M ] Cavaignac regretting the Govern ment's vacillating policy" and adopted i by vote of 311 to PIP the combined motion of M. Marty (Republican) and ! Count de Nun, expressing confidence in | the Government and relying on the ! Government "to take the necessary | steps to stop the campaign against tho 1 army"
 Zola's- letter formally accused the l Minister of War, General Billet, Gen eral Mercier, Major Ravary and Major l Patis de Clane of perjury in the Ester
 hay trial and challenged the Govern 1 ment to prosecute him.
 M. Loubet was reelected President
 of the Senate to-day. M. Scheurer
 Kestner was defeated for reelection tC l the Vice-Presidency.
 The Temps will say tomorrow tha | Comte Esterhazy will be placed on thu
 retired list. Other papers will say tha he has asked to be retired in order tC
 be free to prosecute his calumniators
 M Mathieu and Leon Dreyfus are t, i be prosecuted for an attempt to brib, Colonel Sandherr, chief of the Intelli gence Department of the War Depart l ment in 1894.