Evening journal., 1898-09-01
General de Boisdefre, Chief Of STAFF,
Resigns.
DREYFUS CASE TO BE REOPENED.
Henry's Confession Must Force an Invos-
igation-Cayaignao said TO Be Pros
trated-Another Scene In tho
Drama OF French Corruption.

letter that virtually convicted Drey-
fus committed suicide last night.
Colonel Henry cut his throat with a
razor he had concealed in his valise.
General Lemouton de Boisdeffre, chief
Of the general staff Of the French army,
who presided at one Of the Dreyfus
courts martial. has rendered his resig-
nation to the government.
The widest excitement prevails
throughout Paris.
General de Boisdeffre, IN his letter Of
resignation. explains that he resigns
owing to his misplaced confidence In
Lieutenant Colonel Henry, which led
him to present as genuine what was
forged evidence.
NJ. Cavaignac. the minister Of war, In
reply asked General de Boisdeffre to re-
main 70 "see justice rendered in the
matter"
General de Boisdeffre thanked M.
Cavaignac for proofs Of his esteem. but
persisted I'm his resignation.
He viii be replaced, therefore. by
General Renouard, director OF the Mill
tary college.
The cabinet has held two stormy sit
tngs, under the presidency of M. Faure.
it finally rose between and o'clock.
having apparently failed to arrive at
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 It's de-
cisions for the present
M. Delcasse, minister for foreign af-
fairs Is said TO have been violently at
tackled by his colleagues for having
been ignorant OF the intention Of EN-
peror Nicholas to issue his disarma-
ment proclamation. but In face Of the
revival Of the Dreyfus affair the dis
armament proposal has taken quite a
secondary place.
IL is alleged that several ministers,
including M. Brsson, the premier; M.
Maruejouls. minister Of commerce, and
M. Trouillot. minister Of the colonies.
demanded a revision and the immedl-
ate supercession Of several staff officers.
M. Cavaignac, however, remained firm,
opposing this course on the ground that
Lieutenant Colonel Henrys forgery had
not altered the case as affecting Drey-
fus' guilt.
The only result thus far therefore, is
that Esterhazy Is cashiered and viii re-
tire on a small pension. Even after
leaving the council, ministers continued
to argue heatedly.
NJ. Faure has deferred his intended
return to Havre. 1t would be impossi-
BILE TO describe the sensation that has
thrilled Paris, and Il is not unlikely that
at the next meeting of the chamber Of
deputies the government win be de-
feated.
1t appears that Colonel Picquardt.
who has been strong supporter OF
IofI ~
Cavaignac, minister Of war evidence
which the law OF professional secrecy
prevented him from making publicly
known.
M. Cavaignac would seem to be con-
vinced OF the possibility OF judicial err
ror since his return.
He has questioned one after another
OF the officers whose names have been
prominent during the Dreyfus discus
sion.
Monday morning he summoned Colo
mel Henry 70 his Office in the war de-
partment building.
General Roger, chief OF the military
cabinet, was present at the interview
Colonel Henry was questioned upon the
way in which this too famous letter
came into his hands.
Pressed to the wall, he finally made a
complete confession, trying at the same
time to show how necessary it was at
that moment TO accumulate proofs OF
Dreyfus' guilt.
One naturally asks why Colonel Hen
ry was not pressed TO the wall by
searching questioning long ago.
NJ. Cavaignac is said to be prostrated
by this discovery
IT is not astonishing in view Of the
attitude NJ. Cavaignac has taken in the
nd Of aIar r,Nf n
no longer ago than July s of this very
year when he said he was absolutely
convinced OF the guilt Of Captain Drey-
fus.
One Of the things which led him 10
this conviction was the very letter
which Colonel Henry now admits he
had forged
The speech which the minister OF wal
pronounced on this occasion had such
an effect upon the chamber that II was
ordered that it be printed and posted al
over France.
AS matter Of fact, to an impartial
onlooker, the letter does not appear te
prove anything very conclusively
The passage of 1t read by NJ. Cavaig.
uac in the chamber says:
Il read in the papers that a deput,
going to interpellate the government
about Dreyfus. I shall say / never ha,
any relations with this Jew. Let thi
be understood. Is you are asked any
thing say the same thing. as lis nee
essary that nobody shall ever know
what has been done through him."
This was in 1896, when Castein an
nounced his intention of interpellatinl
the government on the Dreyfus case.
The letter was said to have been writ
ten by one of the military attaches her
in Paris.
According to NJ. Cavaiguac. the au
thenticity OF the letter was proved b.