The Portland daily press., 1898-09-01

5aSrrs4.sa the sensation that has thrilled
Pairs. and it is not T. likely that at the
next,Ineeting of the aamber of deputies
the government viii, 70 defeated.
DREyFUs MAJ BE VlNDlCATED.
An Isnuoxtnnt Arrest in Connection With
famous Case.
Paris, August S1.-The arrest of Lieut..
col. taenry on the discovery that he is
the author of an important letter which
figured In the Dreyfus case, is one OF the
most sensational developments in the
whole of this extraordinary affair.
Calonel Henry has bean throughout the
fighting champion Of the army against
Colonel Piquart, with whom he fought a
duel
= This new development evidently entire
" alters the aspect of both the Dreyfus
and the zole cases, and practically nulli-
feg the evidence of Generals Pellieux and
Roiscoffre and the declarations of the
minister for war, III. Cavalgnao. In the
Chamber of Deputies.
In fact, some people believe that per
hays the real turning point in the Dfey-
fus case has been reached, and that the
arrest of Colonel Henry will lead to re-
vision of the trial of the prisoner OF
Devils island.
assumed the office of minister OF war, he
cAarged the official bureau with making
Thorough search Of the Dreyfus case, and
st was this inquiry which resulted In the
discovery of documents lately read in the
chamber of deputies by N. Cavaingac,
showing that proof of the guilt OF Drey-
fus was forged.
When Colonel Henry WAS summoned to
the ministry of war and was questioned
by NJ, Oavaignao In the presence of Gen.
eral Boisdoffre, and others, he at first
affirmed the authenticity of the discr1ml-
mating documents, but when discrepancies
were pointed out, he at trst admitted
adding sentences and finally confessed 10
falsifying the whole letter.
1t is affirmed, however, that this dis
oovsgy has not changed NJ. Cavaignac's
belief in the cuipability of Dreyfus, but
the minister is determined to punish all
the guilty parties, no matter what their
rank CT position may be. 90
Colonel Henry, Is likely to be tried by
court martial.
Gel Henry was attached to the war de-
partanent when Dregfus was convicted
ssand sae was one of the prominent wit
Elsazsss who testified unfavorsbly, to M.
ZelA au1iag the iatter's sensational trial
on the charge Of libelling military
oaioihss.
Alfrad Dregfus, Hebrew, formerly q
captain in ths I4th regiment of French
ARTILLERY, Is now undergoing imprison.
mens for life on DEVILS island an un-
heaIshy spot off the coast of French
Gninsa. He was formerly on duty at the
ministry for war, was considered a
daughter of wealthy banker and was
hiaHseif q man Of means. In the autumn
of 1894, CAPTAIN DTeyfus was arrested on
ths charge Of selling important documents
regafylzng the French army to the agent
of forefan government. His house Was
searched, but it is claimed that ne evil
denoe Of an incriElinat1ng natNre was
found there. The charge against him was
based upon a memorandum OF q pgckage
of documents which the prisoner is al
legged to have sold to the representative of
a foreign government, generally believed
to be Germany, though another power has
been mentioned in the case. The hand
writing of the memorandum was sup
posed to have corresponded with that of
Dreyfus. Three experts in handwriting
declared Dreyfus had written the memo
randum ana two others asserted that he
had not. In spite OF Dreyfds's repeated
protestations OF innocence, he was tried
BIZ secret court martial, the exact
nature of the evidence against him was
never revealed and he was sentenced to
imprisonment for life in a fortress and to
degradation from all military rank and
honOrs
Drefyus was publicly degraded on the
square of the military school at Paris,
january 8, 1895, in the presence of about
5000 troops.
His epaulets, stripes and buttons were
cut off and his sword was broken. Drey
fus, however, again protested his inno-
cence and cheered for France. He was
eventually taken to Devils island, where
no has since remained. His faithful wife,
his brother and other friends, including
M. Zola, have made repeated but in
effectual efforts to have the prisoners
case reopened, which has resulted in a
number of interpretations from the cham
ber Of deputies, and in the sentencing of
NJ Zola to fines and imprisonment owing
to his having been convicted of libelling
the officers of court martial who tried
Count Esterhazy, a French officer, who
bscame mixed up in the later develop
ments of the case.
Col. Henry's confession threatens to
rekindle the Dreyfus agitation more heat
edly than ever and seems likely to shake
public confidence in the army. Even the
Liberte, strong anti -Dreyfus organ
says:
SIT must cause the deepest pain to all
honorable men that officers of such stand
ing show such lack Of moral sense''
1t is reported that at today's cabinet
meeting the ministers admitted that a re-
vision Of the Dreyfus trial was absolutely
unavoidable and public announcement
that the ministry has decided to initiate
such revision is expected soon.
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
subordinates, Gonse, because in two years
personal Investigation they had not sue
ceeded in discovering the forgery and led
successive war ministers to pledge them
selves to the genuineness Of the docu-
menbs.
The Temps this afternoon asserts that
the disclosures made to the ministers to-
dag, have decided the minister of war TO
place Major Count Esterhazy on the re-
tired list.