The times., 1899-09-03

perhaps they might contain fresh proof of
Dreyfus guilt.
NJ Labori-In other words Colonel Pic
quart was a suspect?
General Gonse was much embarrassed at
this question, but finally answered in the
Affirmative.
NJ. Labori asked il General Gonse knew
that Commissary Tomps had been urged TO
make charges against Colonel Picquart for
delivering a facsimile of the bordereau to
the "Matin"
General Gonse denied that he knew any
thing of this matter.
NJ. Labori then asked General Gonse If
he did not know that the erasure in the
petit bIeu was made in order to ruin Col
onel Picquart.
General Gonse-I don't know who made
the alteration.
NJ. Labori-Doesn't General Roget know?
Roget Touched ON a Sore spot.
General Roget jumped up and came TO
the rescue of his discounted chief. He said
he sent for the petit bleu one day to ex-
anime it with Captain Cuignet. when he dis
/ covered traces Of the erasure therein.
/ n. Labori-Did you not also discover
! traces of Vaccinations against Colonel Pic
! quart?
General Roget replied that he took the
| responsibility for his own acts, but not for
/ those of others.
At this point Colonel Jouaust interrupted
/ and ordered VI. Labori TO bring the scene 10
I a close NJ Labori replied that he would
/ file exceptions TO the ruling of the court
! against several of his questions.
Major La Mothe, former artillery OF
fcer attached to the general staff, empha-
sized the fact that there was nothing Sc
( eret in the firing manual and Dreyfus
could not have had the belief that he was
going to the maneuvres. Moreover, no
stagaire in his second year could have
written the bordereau. Witness added that
he believed the date Of the bordereau had
been changed in order to fit the possibili-
ty of Dreyfus having written it. The wit
ness then read the circular Of the maneu-
yres.
Then a succession OF generals came up
to controdict various points IN the evi-
dence given by the last witness.
General Deloye argued that the firing
manual was not public property. General
Mercier said that only an officer of the gen.
eral staff could know of the troop plans
mentioned in the bordereau.
Another Scene of Army Arrogance.
At last General Roget began an arrogant
badgering of the witness, asking first if he
had not openly expressed his conviction
of Dreyfus' guilt in 1894 This the witness
readily admitted, but said that revelations
since had caused him to change his mind
/ General Roget, in an insulting manner
| then accused the witness of speaking false
ly when he ascribed the bordereau to April,
1884. There were loud murmurs in the au-
! dience and the witness Indignantly pro-
tested against the insinuation, saying he
had no direct knowledge of the date of the
bordereau.
Dreyfus interrupted to say that all stag
aires knew they were not to go TO the ma
neuvres. and he never asked special per-
mission to go.
/ General Roget then engaged in another
/ long discussion with Major La Mothe, argu-
| ing that any stagaire could have gone TO
l the maneuvres for the asking.
/ NJ Demange finally ended this by ask
/ ing General Roget if he knew that Drey-
| fus made any such request.
General Roget answered: "Can you expect
I any trace to remain Of a verbal request?'
The members of the court then consult
| ed as to Mondays procedure. 1t granted
| the request of the defence to hear Major
| Hartmann in seelusion. but declined 10
hear Commandant Ducros. The court then
I adjourned