Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-09-08
REST ON THEIR ARMS.
French Troops Ready to Occupy
City of Rennes.
Government Fenrs Disorder May
Follow Close of Dfeyfus Trial and
Prepares to Meet 1t - FOr-
eigner Gives Evidence.

Rennes, Sept. 5.-As the end of the
Dreyfus court-martial trial comes
within sight the French govern
ment is beginning to display fear
that the verdict may give rise to
troubles, and orders have just been re-
ceived by two regiments of infantry
and one cavalry regiment, already with
in hail of Rennes, to hold themselves in
readiness to march on the town at the
first sign of disorder, to occupy all
strategical poirts and to repress mani
festations in their inception. The
local anti-Dreyfusard organs, by their
anti-foreign articles, have already
singled out foreigners as enemies of
the country, and there is little doubt
that foreign journalists will be the first
victims of the violence of the mob-not
so much Anglo-SaXon as Austrian, Ger
man and Russian Jews, who form ma
jority of the press representation OF
their respective countries.
Mondays session opened rather bad
ly for Capt. Dreyfus, as surprise was
sprung upon the defense in the advent
of an Austrian political refugee, Ell
gene Cernuschi, who came out with a
hat-footed denunciation of the ac-
cused, which, even though it may even
tually be proved a pure fairy tale, is
| bound for the moment to exercise &
malignant influence upon the French
| people. 1t was remarked that as soor
as he delivered his testimony and NJ
Labori had asked to have him put or
oath at to-day's session behind closed
doors in order that he might be pun
ished, if guilty of perjury, he left the
courtroom and was not seen again.
Evidence of n Foreigner.
Cernuschi's testimony, which was il
the form of letter to the presiden
of the court-martial, Col. Jouaust, wa
most unequivocal. He claimed that OIL
three different occasions, twice il
France and once at Geneva, he was TOLD
by a high-placed foreign officer tina
Dreyfus had communicated treason
able documents to a foreign power. Il
the third instance Cernuschi and tn
officer showed him documents emanat
ing from Dreyfus, and that this office
left France hurriedly two days prior L
the arrest of Capt. Dreyfus. The allu
sion was evidently to Col. Schwartz
koppen, the military attache of til
German embassy in Paris in 1894, who's
movements were coincident with thos
described as the movements of the off
Ger of Cernuschi's deposition. Th
deposition evoked expressions OF, il
credulity. One suspicious feature wa
the fact that although the witness sal
he could not speak French tiuently, hi
letter TO Col. ,Touaust, asking an oppol
tunity to testify, was drawn up in pei
feet French. He explained that he ha
been assisted by his wife in writing I'll
letter.
LnbOri's Important Request.
This Introduction of a foreigner q
a witness for the prosecution gave
Labori an opportunity to submit til
most important request he has mao
throughout the trial, a request which,
granted by Col. Jouaust, though tn
is extremely doubtful, would certainl
have momentous consequences. NJ. l.
bori announced his intention, in vie
of the step taken by the prosecution
calling foreign evidence, to ask tn;
inquiry should be made through I'll
regular diplomatic channels as
whether the documents mentioned
the bordereau were actually commur
: Gated, and if so, by whom. This i
wolves an application to the Germa
government, which the court-marti
. is scarcely Likely to approve. In al
case the application means the lengt
ening OF the trial for several weeks.