The times., 1899-08-07
WAITING FOR THE TRIAL
The Day Before the Opening of the
Dreyfus Court Martial.
Many Rumors Are Current In the
Over the Allotment of Tickets to
Correspondents - Examination of
the Secret DOssier the First Step.

Rennes, Aug. Sit is another strange
feature of the Dreyfus affair that this
sweltering, dusty, commonplace little city
in western France should suddenly be-
come the centre of the worlds interest. It
is as if Harrisburg or Peoria shold be lifted
from its August torpor into a mecca for
the great men OF the nation with all
Christendom as eager spectators of its sud-
den distinction. Rennes is filled tonight
with statesmen and generals, not to men
ton the regiments of newspaper CORE
spondents from every country possessing a
public press. The inhabitants have ap-
parently turned the town over to the dis
tiDguished invaders. They have practically
disappeared as everyone with an ounce of
sense would gladly do if it were possible,
to avoid the burning sun, which all day
scorches and bakes the almost shadeles5
town, but every hotel is filed many Of he
visitors willingly accepting makeshift lodg-
ings, and everybody now awaits the mo-
ment when, ct o'clock tomorrow morn
ing, Dreyfus will be arraigned for the
second time before brother officers for this
highest crime under modern law. There is
no lack Of the sensational reports which
from first to last have never failed to
confuse and complicate the affair, but none
is worthy of serious credence. The most
circumstantial is one affirming that the
members of the court will refuse to be
influenced by any instructions from the
Government or other quarter. but affirm
their authority to deal with the prisoner III
all respects as they choose under the law.
Another report that has been current for
several days. is that the moment evidence
outside the scope fixed by the Court of
Cessation is introduced the court martial
will report to the military authorities in
order that fresh supplementary charges
may be brought against the prisoner
Maitre Demange, Dreyfus' counsel, today
told your correspondent that tomorrow's
proceedings will begin with the usual for
rnalities which will be followed by the ar
raignment of the prisoner. The examina-
ton of the secret dossier will not begin
prior to Tuesday, and will possibly continue
on Wednesday and Thursday. 1t is impos-
sible to fix beforehand the time that the
examination will occupy. Maitre Demange
emphatically said that no witnesses would
be examined tomorrow.
in the following order:
NM Chamoin, Palcologue. De la Roche
Vernet Casimir- Perier, Generals Mercier,
Billot Cavignac Zurlinden. and Chanolne,
NJ. Hanotaux, former Foreign Minister;
Senator Guerin, NJ Lebon, former Fafnister
of the Colonies; Nine. Henry, widow of
Colonel Henry; General Roget, Judge Ber-
tuius, Colonel Picquart, Captain CuIgnet,
and Generals Boisdeffre and Gonse.
fba rrfa Will
be held, four rooms are being prepared in
addition to the audience hall. The first OF
these will be used for safeguarding the
witnesses the second will be used by the
Judges for their deliberations, while the
third will be used by Dreyfus as retiring
room during the deliberation of the court.
The use to which the fourth room will be
put is not known.
/ General Zurlinden, formerly Military
Governor Of Paris, arrived here this morn
ing early Former President Casimir-
Perier arrived at o'clock this afternoon
and received an ovation. General Billot
and Senator Guerin arrived at O'Clock,
and Generals Roget and Pellieux at 8.
Former Minister Trarieux will not arrive
until August Il.
Madame Dreyfus paid her usual visit to
her husband this afternoon, but the Incl
dent attracted no attention. In fact, the
day has been absolutely without happening
of note.
The grievances of the foreign corre-
spcndents seem to cause the authorities
much amusement. The president of the
court martial. who apparently has a strong
| sense Of humor, declared at first that one
ticket should be assigned to an arbitrary
group Of ten newspaper men, leaving them
TO settle among themselves the order in
which each man should use it. 1t is un-
M To- he tha pffacf ~ this q
| rangement. Then the arrangement was
modified so that one ticket should be given
to two correspondents The correspondent
OF the London Times" and the reporter of
| the Chicago Associated Press have one
ticket between them, and a pretty quarrel
is in progress over the question OF which
of the two viii attend the first session.