The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25

FaflS 10 convince these Russian officers,
by any means that / can devise, of the
efficiency and preparedness of our troops
in case of war with Germany I wish
you TO help me out in this matter. My
design is TO lay before these men a synop-
teal sketch of our plans with details on
the strength and position of our artillery,
and the strength of our fortresses and
mountain batteries. 1t is you who must
communicate this information. You will
have to act with great discretion, taking
no one into your confidence"
To this Dreyfus replied: 'FMy general,
pardon me if l speak plainly. But would
il not seem that an action of this kind
the communicating of our secret docu-
mentS-had the appearance almost of trea-
son, the very shadow or suspicion of which
a soldier must avoid as he would avoid
the fangs OF a serpent?''
De MlribeFs response to this was:
Your scruples do you honor, but there
is no motive for them here. You know
the plans are all of my making and are
in my keeping and at my absolute discre-
ton. Suppose these Russians should de-
sire to use against us this information
We are communicating to them, with few
strokes of the pen 1 can SO alter the
plans as to render that information abso-
! lutely valueless. Captain, you need have
no scruple. 1 take on myself all the re-
sponsibility in this matter You are mere
ly obeyng my commands. Go. make your
arrangements to carry out my orders"
Capt. Dreyfus insists that his version
of what passed between him and his SUI
perior on this occasion is absolutely cor
rect. The Italian ambassador was con-
WINGED by his investigation that it was
true and the attendant circumstances GER
tainly give it a strong appearance Of prob
ability
The intelligence bureau, which depends
on the staff commander, is an elaborate
ly organized concern. Part of its functions
is to arrange not merely a system of es-
pionage, but also a method of deceiving
| foreign spies. Thus, when the identity,
| say of a German or Italian spy, is known
in France, the war office, if it can find
no good evidence for expelling him, sends
out one of its own emssaries, who act
ing the role of the traitor, communicates
small amount of true information on
matters of little or no Importance, and
much false information on points of vital
interest. This part, as the eastern ma
neuvers in question: was being played by
Capt. (since major Esterhazy, a commits
stoned employe in the war Office.
The man was born for the role. OF for
eign extraction, cynical in countenance
poor in purse, spendthrift in habits, ne
was just the person to create the impress
sion of being an INSCRIPTIONS man and
traitor on occasion. This is why the
French war office use him for this pur-
pose.
But while the French war office was
employing him as a feigned traitor, Es-
| terhazy was real and veritable traitor
with all the earnestness of his perverted
| soul.
1t is well, therefore, to note the exact
/ position of affairs in the matter of es-
| pionage at these memories. Capt. Drey-
| fus was, by order of the chief of staff
/ arranging to submit some private infor-
nation to a deputation of Russian off,
! GERS This he was doing as an upright
/ man, conscious of acting honestly. Capt
! Esterhazy was employed TO meet the rep-
resentatives of Germany and Italy, and to
| sell them all the false information he
/ could. Instead of doing this he took both
attaches into his confidence, informed
| Them of the work he was employed to do,
! and proposed, in consideration of a large
| sum of money, to worm out a great deal
! OF correct intelligence and communicate 1t
! to them.
The work of neither man could be done
on the maneuvering field by day. ~
1t was rather in private, and at night
that the negotiations could alone be car
! ried out. The military representatives of
| Russia, Germany and Italy were all stop
! ping at the same hotel in Belfort, I hotel
de Ia Care, and here the two French Of
ficers, ignorant of each others missions,
met them. 1t happened on the very first
| evening that Esterhazy, dressed as a
| civilian, entered the smoking room In COM
pany with Coils. Schwartzkoppen and Pan
nizzardi, and there found the Russian of
flcers in conversation with Capt. Dreyfus,
| who wore his uniform.
1t is supposed that Esterhazy effectively
| consummated his bargain and got his mon
| ey; certainly Dreyfus on his part fulfilled
his instructions and thus had his share in
! effecting the great project of the Franco
| Russian alliance.
1t was late in 1894 that discarded docu-
| ment was found which revealed to the
French etat-majeur that there was a trail
tor in the intelligence bureau. This docu-
ment was the famous bordereau. 1t had
been written by Esterhazy A much great
er similarity exists in the handwritings OF
| Frenchmcn than in those of English OF
| Americans and penmanship in France is
not always prima-facie piece of evidence
| Eisterhazy, who was, employed in the in
telligence bureau, was one of the first ia
see the document. Taking it in his hand
he meditated over it for a time.
THAT is in the hands of Capt. Dreyfus -
he finally announced with the utmost cool
! ness.
Previous to this event Gen de Miribel
had died. His end was sudden and to some
extent mysterious. He had been making an
inspection on the southeast frontier, and
after a hard days riding, stopped at a
farm house for refreshments. He drank
dead from his saddle. Some hinted that
he had been poisoned, and rightly OF
| wrongly, this theory gained much cred
ence throughout France.
Dreyfus alone had enjoyed de Miribels
trust. Besides, he was jew he was
| reserved and taciturn; he took no part
in the sportive life of the other officers
| outside of Office hours he was never seen.
| All this caused some animosity against
him. Esterhazys handwriting was not
very dissimilar from his. The rumor that
| Capt. Dreyfus was the traitor spread
through the war Office. He was arrested
and tried in the iniquitous manner that
| all know.
Esterhazy deposed to seeing him in con-
sultatlon with foreign military represent
| atives at Belfort. Dreyfus admitted the
fact, and explained the whole circum-
stances of the commission he had from
Gen. de Miribel. Gen. Boisdeffre there
upon stood up and gave Dreyfus the lie.
| His view was that De Mirbel could have
intrusted Dreyfus with no such mission
without Boisdeffre's knowledge, since he