The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
FRENCH ARMY'S SEDIT!ON.
MANY READY TO FOLLOW 4 STRONG
LEADER AGAINST THE RBPUBLIC.
An Actual Plot May Not Exist. but Hatred
of the Republic Is Now Characteristic of
Army Onlcers-DanEer Indicated Dur
ing the Past Weeks Serious Crisis.

Srtedl Gable Deipaieh 10 TuR sur.
PARIS. July 20.-It Is useless to deny that
this weeks crisis has been one OF the most
anxious In the long list Of crises which the
Dreyfus iniIuty has forced upon the country.
Gen. de Negrer. in his seditious speech to his
subordinates. proclaimed the real danger to
the republic. and 1t is one which even the in
trepid Minister OF War. Gen. de Galiiffet. can
no more than suppress for the time being.
The denas which have been forthcoming OF
the existence Of plot against the civil gov
eminent by the army officers are only partially
reassuring. An actual plot against the civil
authority may not exist at tho present mo-
ment. but hatred Of the republic does. md the
reason for this hatred is that tie republic
MONS peace whiie the only outlet for the
army officers ambition is In the direction OF
war.
Gen. de Galliffet himself recently put the
truth Of the situation in a characteristic and
STRAIGHTFORWARD fashion. He said that it would
be impossible for the present system to long
continue. Either the army must DO reduced
or the republic succumb for the army. or
rather its officers. will refuse to remain much
longer idle. aud the republican institutions.
according to the French form. will be unable to
resist the pressure. II was tho realization
Of the fact that there is widespread sediton
among the army officers. even II there is no
definite plot. which caused this weeks alarm
and sharp financial collapse.
Tho present situation has only an indirect
connection with the Dreyfus affair. The latest
developments In that case brought out such
startling revelations OF the periidy and crime
among the high officers OF the army that the
whole Military Department of the country is
under the gravest suspicion. This Ia. OF course.
almost intolerabie to the honest men among
the officers. and as the esprit de corps Ia
stronger than the LOYALTY to the present form
Of government. they are more anxious than
ever to redeem the reputation OF tho army in
the only way possible. There can be no doubt,
unhappily. that any strong leader. be he pro-
tender or General would find many supporters
to-day among the officers OF the French Army
in any movement to overthrow the republican
regime. These reasonable sentiments are
not shared to a large extent in the rank aud
file. but it Is an open question Of how strong
tho forces Of discipline might prove in I'm
emergency.
old martinez. Gen de Gallifret. sits in the War
once. and that his colleagues in the Cabinet
are not lacking In courage.
In Government circles it is maintained that
the energetic action Of the Ministry has rallied
to its support many hitherto opposing ele-
ments and IT Is now declared that II the Cham
Der were in session the Government could
command a majority Of eighty. Frenchmcn. It
Ia argued by the Governments supporters. like
aGovernment which strikes and shows energy
The Figaro says that the author Of the re-
ports which caused the fall In reptes on the
Bourse on Thursday was an officer OF the Pre-
feoture OF Police. who was Immediately dis.
missed when the canards were traced to him.