Evening star., 1898-09-03
FRANCE MAY HAVE A WAR
Consequences of the Dreyfus Scandal May
Involve Her With Germany.
Mistaken Report That Revision Had
Been Decided UpOn-A Cabinet
Council necessary.

| The report put in circulation by a Paris
| news agency that revision of the Dreyfus
| cs Sc had been decided upon appears to be
| premature. 1t is now pointed out that a
revision must be sanctioned by cabinet
| council, uLder the presidency of NJ Faure.
No such council has been held as yet. but
| M. Cavaignac, the minister of war, con-
| ferred at great length yesterday with M.
| Sarrien. the minister of justice AMI M
| Brisson. president of the council and min
| lister of the interior. The presumption is
| that these conferences had to do with the
proposal of revision, but the results have
| not been made public.
The most pessimistic feelings exist 1t
| is the common belief that Great Britain
and Russia are on the eve of war, ana :hat
| the consequences of the Dreyfus scandal
Will involve France in war with Germany.
1t Is now said that the chamber of Gepu-
ties Will not assemble until October by
which time it Is hoped the storm will have
blown over. Almost all the minister's it is
believed, are now in favor of revision. NJ.
CaNalgnac is alone obdurate, insisting that
he must finish his departmental inquiries
and that even then he will act only under
pressure of a threat of publication abroad
of such disclosures as would leave him no
alternative TO revision.
NJ lola remains in hiding. but he has
written letter of congratulation to Nine
Dreyfus
Inc government Is doing its best to stem
the rising tide of agitation by a studied
quiescence, which scandalizes the Journal
des Debats and other papers; but it may
succeed in getting over the crisis.
FRure Stays at Havre.
M. Faure ignores the reproaches of the
press. and remains at Havre. M. Bour-
gecis. minister of education is in Switzer-
| land His address is not known here NJ
Peytral, minister of finance, is at Mar
seilles. and NJ. Lockroy, minister of ma
zine, is at Cherbourg
In the meantime, NJ. Cavaignac minister
of war. and NJ. Sarrien minister of Justice
are busy enough. NJ. Sarrien had two pro-
longed conferences with NJ. Brisson yestcr
DAY afternoon, and after NJ. Cavaignac's
long interview with M Sarrien both min
listers locked ruffled. These and other i'm
promptu ministerial conferences were de-
voted to an endeavor to convince the min
lister for war of the necessity, on political
grounds, of revision of the Dreyfus case
which the whole country including the
army. now demands.
High officers confess that the discussions
that will follow revision will probably en-
tail war. but they say that would be pref
erabie to having the army remain under
cloud. with the possibilities of agitation
leading to civil strife.
NJ de Blowitz the Paris CORRESPONDENT
OF the London Times telegraphs that he
has obtained the views of distinguished ed
German en- the Dreyfus situation This
individual admitted that Germany, by
speaking out, could, perhaps clear up the
Dreyfus affair."" but he added that the in
terests of the nation are superior to those
of any man, and If Germany were listened
to, Gen. de Boisdeffre could not remain an
hour at the head of the staff whereas Ger
mans ought to wish to have him stav there
as long as possible"
Inside knowledge.
M. de Blowitz says: Gen. Bo.sdeffres
shortcomings are just fully understood
here as in France. There was even an idea
of sending him as French ambassador to
st. Petersburg, a post he desired, but the
incident of the Zola trial made his reten-
ton as chief of staff imperative. Now,
however, the Germans no longer have
n otive to keep silence"
Proceeding to relate from inside knoWI-
edge. the history of the forgeries of Col
SchWartzkoppen's date German military
attache in Paris) handwriting, the Times
correspondent says the work was so clev-
erly done as to deceive Col. SchwartZkop-
pen himself who. even when he became
aware of it, was unable TO dcncunce it.
owing to the introduction of certain names
M de BlowitZ arrives at this conclusion:
IT is absolutely Impossible that Lieut..
Col. Henry should have attained the nee
essary professional dexterity. The actual
forger. therefore. must be sought else
| where. though it is likely enough that
Henry concocted the phrases. Discovery
would not be difficult and would elicit the
whole truth
1t is asserted on aigh authority at Rome
that the Italian military attache In Paris,
Col. Pan.zzardi the writer of two of the
three documents-the ones dated March
and April, 1894. upon which NJ. Cavaignac
said he relied, when reasserting his convic-
ton of the guilt of Dreyfus in the chamber
of deputies few weeks ngo-wilI not be
allowed to publish any Dreyf1s revela-