The herald., 1898-09-02
ALL FRANCE IS STIRRED
By NEW DEVELOPMENTS I'M THE
nREYFUs CASE ~
A REVISION OF THE TRIAL
Il Admitted to Be Necessary Even by
the Condemned Mans Most
virulent Enemies



NEW YORK. Sept. LA special to the
Herald from Paris says everyone ID dis
cussing the new phase OF the Dreyfus az
fair. Nobody knows what TO make OF It.
On one hand those convinced OF Colonel
Henry's guilt insist that his confession does
not alter the case; on the other hand the
Oreyfus supporters declare that a revision
OF his trial 10 now inevitable.
In all quarters there is an air Of hesitan-
cy. People can no longer talk about the
matter calmly. Upon one thing. however.
Frenchmen of all shades Of opinion are
united-that Colonel Henry's rascallty does
not necessarily either incriminate the gen.
eral staff or aoQuit Dreyfus. What. how
ever. II does do ID to show that the AFFAIR
needs . far more searching probing than 1t
has yet received.
Colonel Henry IL a man who has risen
from the ranks. He Is said to be the very
type OF the non-commissioned officer. This.
according to French ideas. means man
who 10 diacipllnarian first. last and all the
time. His sxcusers say he thought It his
luty to bring the Dreyfus agitation to an
end ana that he accordingly fabricated the
document to convince his chief that Dreyfus
was indeed the individual spoken OF In the
letters and 20 forth, upon which that Of
iicer was convicted. What makes the mat
ter worse. all the chiefs had to DO was to
examine the original documents. II these
were found insufficient to convince them
Of Dreyfus' culpability a revision would
seem to be the only thing possible. But for
the heads OF the War Office to have allowed
themselves to be led into pledging their
onor that Dreyfus was guilty on the
strength Of a document they had not even
examined closely. seems inexplicable. The
serious papers are naturally enough re-
served In their comments.
The Temps says: I'VE will not dwell
upon the painful side Of the matter. There
Is something in It that will not prevent the
friends Of truth from feeling that some
cloud intercepting the light should have
been dispersed In an accusation Of forgery.
They can only repeat that In spite of oil the
army remains intact In our respect and at
lection. The morrow Of the day that Drey-
fus was arrested upon the accusation Of
betraying his country. France, although
believing him guilty. found consolation In
the rejection that original faults did not
attack the entire body. This thought,
natural ten years ago, Is still valid today"
The Temps then reviews M. Cavaignac's
previous utterances. The present War
Minister said no consideration for the
national safety could induce him to MAIN
tain an innocent man In prison. Naturally,
therefore. the moment he finds that one Of
the most important documents. or rather.
the most decisive Of all. is a forgery, he
takes the only step possible. that is to say.
gives orders to arrest the forgerer.
us this ail?" asks the Temps. NOW we
are only upon the threshold Of truth. We
are holding the end Of the thread that
should guide us through the labyrinth into
which the country has been lost. We have
everything to gain in returning on that
dark night The hour seems at hand when
the nightmare will come to an end. On
ward toward that longed-for moment"
The Journal des Debats believes the re-
vision Of Dreyfus' trial 10 an absolute nee.
essity.
Taken separately, Colonel Henry's for
gerry does not prove Dreyfus' innocence,
still the fact that one Of the documents re-
lating TO the affair shows that forgery had
been committed to prove after the triar the
guilt OF the condemned man, Is a matter
Of such gravity that II must necessarily
provoke serious reflection and call for the
most minute examination of the other doc
uments on which the accusation against
Dreyfus was built and of the proofs pro-
duced openly or secretly In the trial"
A. to the minor papers, they are either
jubilant or vindictive, Just as they happen
TO be for or against Dreyfus.
The Jour. which 10 anti-Drcyfus, says:
"Of the former officers guilt, 1t was more
than ever proved during the scrutiny Of the
evidence by the Minister"
This. however, is assertion-not proof.
The Patrie makes the Supplying declara-
ton that the discovery OF this fors'ery is
proof that the other documents conserved
Ia the case are genuine.
The Paris In Its last edition says that the
ministry OF war officials are convinced that
the forgery was committed at the lnstiga-
ton Of Commandant Du Patty de Clam,
who was the object Of a special at ack OF,
lola for his "melodramtic" antics with
Dreyfus when that officer was imprisoned
awaiting trial. Colonel Du Clam, according
to the Paris. 10 looked upon as mad BY hi.
colleagues, curious recommendation for
. man charged with such grave duty 3
the investigation Of evidence brought
against prisoner charged with treason.
The Lanterne says that man who pur-
sued Plcuart with his testimony from the
Assixe Court 10 the Cabinet Of the Judge
d'Instructlon is a miserable forger who
has not hesitated to commit a crime IN
order to further some tortuous schemes of
the general STAFF
The Petit Republique says: "rhe CONFESS
sion Of the forssr Henry opens up the
dsnouemsnt Of the tragedy with which
France has been fighting for years IN
darkness.
Henry's Suicide
PARIS. Sept. lit Is now ins!nua ted
that the suicide Of Lleutena mt Colonel
Henry, the chief Of the Intelligence Depart- |
mentvef the French Ministry for War, was
connivsd al by the French army authori- |
ties. In any case. the suicide occurred
shortly after the prisoner had received a |
visit from an officer Of the general stan, |
who. on leaving, ordered the sentry on duty
before Colonel Henry's place Of confine-
ment not to disturb the prisoner, as he |
had a lot Of work to do. 1t is recalled thai
similar opportunity to commit suicide |
was afforded to Dreyfus, who. however, de-
elinsd to profit by II.
1t ID generally believed that the res.
OF the general stan OF the French army |
VIII follow the example Of General Be-.
uenre, the Chief OF staff. and Of General |
Gonse' the Under Chief, and tender their
designations.
appears that the Minister for War, M