The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-16
FRANCE In TROUBLE
THE DREYFUs CASE WORRYING. THE
GOVERNMENT AT HOME,
A
While Britain Threatens to Drive the
They EncrOach on the Soudan.
NOVELIST zoLA'S CHARGES
A GRAVE REFLECTION ON THE HON.
OR OF THE FRENCH ARMY.
His Prosecution Likely to Result I'm
Airing a Scandal That Has Already
Caused Much Excitement.
fcoprright 1ses. by tl1e Asgociated Press. )

LONDON, Jan. 1.-THE new phase into
which the Dreyfus case has entered is dis
tinct advance. The era of secret courts
martial is over and q civil and public court
will have to investigate Emile Zola's
charges Of persistent distortion of justice
The behavior of military authorities in
'burking" the inquiry casts the gravest
reflections on the oft-asserted honor of the
French army, which has shown an obsti-
nate deter mination to stick together, right
or wrong.
Outside of France all Europe believes
Dreyfus is the victim of a Villainous con-
spiracy and the prosecution of Zola has
broadened the question for the whole
French army is now virtually placed on
trial. The gravity of the situation is en-
hanced because the whole of France is in
a state of growing hysterical excitement
Temporarily the republic is generally sup
ported throughout the country, but history
shows that similar hysteria has frequently
led to violence and chaos. When France
is able to analyze the situation, and should
the suspicion spread that the honor of the
army is really affected the consequences to
the republic might be of the most serious
description. The Panama scandals have de-
filed political life. and the law courts have
the army must also be surrendered, the de-
sire to change the government may be ire
pressible, in which case the temptation for
the leaders to divert the attention of the
country to a foreign war will be well nigh
Irresistible. Hence the deep interest of
Frances neighbors. For the moment the
intense excitement will probably find an
outlet in the renewal of the spectacle pre-
sented during the liveliest days of Bou-
langism. Hot alterations in the streets.
leading TO assaults, are frequent the police
are guarding the houses of prominent Drew
russians aid 1t is impossible to foresee where
the arrests will end. Slander and denupcia-
ton are so rampant that the authorities are
taking special precautions to prevent the
calumniated from taking the law into their
own hands. Duels have already resulted.
A monster manifestation is preparing in
Paris for Sunday. Allegedly it is anti
Dreyfusian. Really 1t is anti-Semitic and
unless prohibited it is feared serious riots
may be the sequel.
Temporarily overshadowed, the move
ments of the French on the Upper Nile are
again becoming unpleasantly prominent to
those who imagined that Great Britain had
undisputed claims on those regions. 1t is
immaterial to discuss the exact whereabouts
of the French expeditions. 1t suffices that.
according to the bulk OF evidence, they have
penetrated TO Bahr-el-Ghazal, the most fer
tile province of the Egyptian Soudan with
the distinct mandate of their government.
III this is true, and the declarations of sue
cessive British Cabinets mean anything. M.
Hanotaux, the French minister of foreign
AFFAIRS has brought about casus beIIi.
Ihus Tar M. Hanotaux seems to have the
advantage, but the game is dangerous. Fear
OF war with France will not step Great
Britain from recovering the whole of the
Egyptian Soudan and driving out any
French expeditions which may be found
there when, in the opinion of the MARQUIS
of Salisbury, the proper time has arrived.
In the meantime Prince Henry of Orleans
is fitting out, at Marseilles, and evidently
with the approval Of the government, an
armed expedition to subdue the equatorial
provinces which the Negus presented.
claiming they had belonged to Abyssinia in
prehistoric times; but in reality these prov
inces are identical with those Great Britain
is seeking to restore to Egypt. SO. perhaps.
there is some truth in the story that the
activity of the British is due to the Egyp-
tian Intelligence Department learning that
the French-Abyssinian troops have reached
Fashoda, that King Meneik is preparing
reinforcements with the intention of follow
ing up this success and that common pol
ICY which is morally supported by Russia,
unites France and Abyssinia-
There are persistent reports of grave trou-
bles threatening Persia The Shah's cover
eighty has always been shaky, and it is now
affirmed to be rapidly slipping from his
grasp. Indeed, she situation at Teheran is
described as being so precarious that a coup
detat may be precipitated at any moment.
Probably the murder of Greaves, the Eng
lish telegraph operator, and the outbreak
at Mekran are connected with the tendency
to revolt in Persia 1t is believed in we'll
informed circles that the dispatch of India
troops to the Persian gulf is due to the
general unrest.
The news that Gen. Sir William Lock-
hart, the commander of the British forces
on the Indian frontier, has postponed his
journey homeward, in the expectation of a
settlement with the Afridis, who are seem
ingly desirous of submitting, points to the
early conclusion of the most serious of the
quartet of little wars In which Great Brit
ain is engaged, and which will probably alb
sorb the whole of the budget surplus.
An eminent person, who ,.as lunching re-
Gently with Mr.. Gladstone, asked him what
was the greatest danger threatening Great
Britain-was it France, Germany, Russia, or
America. None of them,' was the reply
of the great English statesman; 1.-The only
danger l foresee is from the trades unions
and their attendant strikes"
The Earl of Egin, Niceroy Of India. has
wired the government that the Zakka-Khel
Afrdis have reoccupied Khyber pass. and
that the cutting OF wires and firing upon es-
who captured by the Afrdis in De
cember. has been released and has arrived
at Mammal, India.