The age-herald., 1898-01-16
NEW PHASE OF
 DREYFUS CASE Distinct Advance From The Era of Secret CourtmartialS. THE PROSECUTION OF ZOLA Has Virtually Placed The El' : 1snch
 Army on TrialE-s EXPEDITIONS ON TIES FER NILE France's Soldiers ThoughYS Fave Penetrated
 sohF-t'-s''l, s;'S"d'"' CASUS BELLI WITH ENGLAND May Have Been Brought About If Such Is the Case-Persistent Reports of Grave Troubles Threatening Persal-In-
 huenza in the Sacred Coi-
 lege of Rome.
EXPEDITIONS ON TIES SER NILE
Franee's Soldiers ThoughYc Ave Penetrated
 B0hr-El-dhazf ::iand0n'
A cAsUs BELLI WITH ENGLAND

London, Jan. 15.-The new phase into which the Dreyfus case has entered is a distinct advance. The era of secret courts martial is over and civil and public court will have to investigate Emile Zoa's charges of persistent distortion of justice. The behavior of military authorities in "Burking'' the inquiry casts the gravest reflections upon the oft-asserted honor of the French army, which has shown ob- stinate determination to stick together, right wrong.
 Outside of France all Europe believes Dreyfus is the victim of a yillainous aon- spiracy and the prosecution of Zol stAas 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 conse- quences to the republic might be of the most serious description.
 LAW COurtS Discreufteus
 The Panama scandals have defiled politi- cal life and the law courts have been dis- credited; therefore if respect for the army must also be surrendered, the desire to change the government might be irresponsi- ble in which case the temptation for the leaders to divert the attention of the coun- try to foreign war will be well nigh irresistible. Hence the deep interest of y1oop intense excitement will probably find outlet in the renewal of the spectacle pre- sented during the liveliest days of Bou- langism. Hot altercations in the streets, leading to assaults are frequent, the po- lice are guarding the houses of prominent Dreyfusans and 1t is impossible to foresee where the arrests will end Slander and denunciation are rampant that the au- thorities are taking special precautions to prevent the calumniated from taking the law into their own hands. Duels have al- ready resulted. A monster manifestation is preparing in Paris for Sunday. Allegedly it is -Dreyfusian. Really, it is antf- Semitic and unless prohibited 1t is reared serious riots may be the sequel
 Temporarily overshadowed, the move- ments of the French on the Upper Nile are again becoming unpleasantiy prominent to those who imagined that Great Britain had undisputed claims upon those regions. 1t is immaterial to discuss the exact wherea- bouts of the French expeditions. Accord- ing to the bulk of evidence they have pene- trated to Bahr-El- -Ghazal, the most fertile province of the Egyptian Soudan with the distinct mandate of their government. If this is true, and the declarations or successiye British cabinet meetings con- firm it, M, Iianotaux, the French minister for foreign affairs, has brought about casus bellis .
 The Game is Dangerous.
 Thus far M Hanotaux seems to have the advantage, but the game is dangerous. Fear of war with France will not stop Great Britain from recovering the whole Egyptian Soudan.
 In the meantime Prince Henri of Orleans is fitting out at Marseilles. and evidently with the approval of the government, an armed expedition to subdue the tequatoriai provinces which the Negus presenteds claiming they had belonged to gAbyssinia in prehistoric times; but in reality these provinces 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 Egyptian intelligence uepartHiehe iee'il ing that the French Abyssian troops have reached Fashoga, that King Menelik is preparing renforcements with the inten- ton of following up this successS and that 0 common policy, which is morally sup ported by Russia United France and Abys- sinia.
 There are persistent reports Of grave troubles threatening Persia. The shah's sovereignty has always been shaky, ana it Is now affirmed to be rapidly slipping from his grasp. Indeed. the situation at Teheran is described as being so precarious that a coup d'etat may be precipitated at any moment.
 Probably the murder of Graves, the Eng fish telegraph operator, and the outbreak at Mekran are connected with the ten- dency to revolt in Persia.
 Will Absorb the Surplus.
 It Is believed in well-informed circles that the despatch of Indian troops to the Per sian gulf is due to the general unrest.
 The news that Gen. Sir William Lockhart. Continued on Sixth Page.)