The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-30
Tart HAS Distinctly Favorable to The
Prisoner.
Other Parts Were Not
So Much So.
NJ. De Freycinet Tries To Hedge
In What He Says.

Rennes. August 2a.-Neither side was
pleased with the outcome of today's pro-
cesdings before the court martial that Is
trying Capt. Dreyfus. The Dreyfussrds
expected that Col. Cordier who was depu-
ty chief of the intelligence department.
under the late Lieut.. Col. Henry, won Id
testify that the borderesu was received
directly by Col. Sandherr. Had this ex
pectation been realized, the testimony
would have been a strong point In favor
of the accused, because it would have
bssn reply to the anti-Dreyfusards,
who have all along contended that
Henry reosived thei bordereau and for
warded 1t to Sandherr. thing he would
not have done had the bordereau been,
as the Dreyfusards assert, written by his
accomplish, Hsterhazy; form that event.
Henry would have recognized the hand
writing when he received the borderaau
frtm the German embassy and would
have suppressed 1t. instead of forwarding
it TO Saraherr. Col. Cord!er, however,
testified today that he was absent from
the intelligence department. when the
borderean arrived, but that he believed 1t
was received by Henri.
Naturally this statement elated the
ti-Drey fusards. but they had good rea-
son to congratulate themselves upon the
remainder Of Cordier's testimony as 1t
was wholly 10 favor of Dreyfus.
On the other hand, the procession of
generals and officers of the general staff
who demanded an opportunity to con.
front Col. Cordier, was good piece of
tactics from this point of view of the
anti-Dreyfusards, because, all the points
they contested were not of the first Inn
portance. yet their very appearance ON
the stage and their contradictions of
some of Cordier's statements left dis
agreeable impression.
The appearance of Gen. Mercier to quss-
tion Col. Cordier came as a surprise to
many In the audience. who had supposed
that, after last Saturdays scene, when
Meroier was confronted with Capt
Freystaetter, he would remain quiet. but
Mercier is game to the death. His action
today is interpreted as intended to show
that he is not going TO throw up the
sponge. The part he played in 1894 Rays
him open to arrest and this Is a constant
topic of discussion In the cafes and at
other nesting places in Reunes. There
appears, however, to be an excellent rea-
son why the government will not take
any such serious step until the trial is
over.
Col. Jousust, president of the court
martial, could adjourn the trial Indefinite
ly If Mercier, who is an important wit
ness, were arrested. If the trial were
would lapse and the proceeding would
have to be gone over again from the be-
ginning.
Today's attendance was the largest
since the opening of the trial. Every body
WAS on the qui vivs to hear the testimony
of M. De FreyoiDet. senator, former
premier, former minister of foreign affairs
and former minister OF war. This adroit
politician, the white mouse" of French
politics, sat upon the fence as well as
he could. dis expression of fear that
the Dreyfns agitation would iniure the
discipline of the army, greatly annoyed
the Dreyfussrds, as calculated to influ-
ence the judges against the accused. But
he followed 1t with eulogy Of the pio-
neer of the Dreyfus campaign. Scheuer-
Kestner, former vics-president of the Sem
ate, whose character he said he held In
the hiehest esteem. Maitre Labori then
secured another concession favorable to
ID eyfus by getting M. de Freycinet to
ad nit that he could not recall a single
faot go ng to prove that money had been
sent into France from abroad to promote
a campaign in favor of Dreyfus. The
general feeling is, however, that his APP
pearance on the witness stand has not
materially helped the counsel Of the zc-
cusea.
Col. Cordier, deputy chief OF the in
teli4gence department, under the late
Col Henri, who since his previous ap-
psaranee In court. has been released by
the minis. er o. war, Gen. de Marquis de
Gallifet, from his oath of professional
secrecy, was the first witness called to-
day.
he Il ssitied to the effect that the late
Col. Sandherr and not Lieut.. Col. Henri,
received the famous borderoau. The wit
and was most amusing in delivering his
testimony. He kept the court and evsn
the judges In roars- of laughter by his
comieal manner and witticisms. The
Colonel declared that his belief in the
guilt of Dreytus was first shaken when
the date of the bordereau wRs given as
May, and the witness declared stoutly he
was now convinced Dreyfus was inno-
cent.
Col. Cordier then spoke up strongly for
Col. Picquart as a conscientious soldier
and an honorable man and threw light
upon the situation which existed in the
offices of the intelligence department. of
the war Offices. He explained that Henry
was jealous of Picquart because the latter
was given charge of the statistical sec
ton which Henri hoped to get for him.
self. Cordier expressed the belief that it
was because OF Picquart that Henry com.
mitted his forgery.
The evidence of Col. Cordier was deliy-
cred In a loud yoics. He several tiIues
mentioned the ambassador OF Germany
which caused the president Of the court,
Col. Jouaust, to intervene and tell the
witness that he must not Introduce the
am bass sdor's name or refer to Germany.
The hasty corrections of the witness when
he repeated the same slips of the tongue
as he did more than once, and the anus
ing manner in which he avoided mention
ing Germany at other times. caused the
greatest merriment.
During his testimony n, fewer than
i've witnesses rose and asked to be con-
frcn.ed with him, hut the Colonel teok
the Interruptions with the utmost good
hutror.