The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-08-25
MERCER IS coHTIDEHr.


CO0v1cte0-VSH0tet1 Ii S0f6 -
He Predeternined.
Chicago, Aug. 21.-The Tribune's spe-
cial from Rennes says: According to
statements communicated from such
an exceptional source as to carry UNI
usual presumption of truth, the SEN
tence of Dreyfus is already decided
upon. He will be found guilty of dis
ciplinary indiscretions, for which he
will be sentenced to five years impris-
1onment. As he has served this term of
sentence the practical result will be
that he will be set free and take his po-
sition in the army as a captain en- re-
forme, without pay or emoluments, and
any career in the active army will be
closed to him.
Rennes, Aug. 21.-Gen. Mercier, who
was minister of war when Capt. Drey-
fus was condemned, and who in the
present trial is the virtual prosecutor,
was called upon Sunday afternoon by a
correspondent of the Associated Press.
who invited him to make statement of
the position of the anti-Dreyfusards.
Although unable to receive the CORE
spondent in person, Gen. Mercier sent
his Oldest son to convey the following
expression of his views:
Gen. MERCER considers It useless to at
tempt to convert foreign opinion regarding
the Dreyfus question, in which, moreover
foreigners have no right to intervene For
etgn peoples have been misled by their
press, which is violently Dreyfusard, for
"a m fT1of a5nys o$tr,e
foreign newspapers have been bribed by the
Jewish syndicate Gen. Nercier considers
anything he might say explaining his po-
sition, which is that of a majority Of the
French people, would be useless The best
reply to Dreyfusard statements abroad will
be condemnation of Dreyfus This con-
domination is only a matter of ten days or
fortnight, for condemned Dreyfus GER
ta1nly will be. Foreigners will then see that
their journals have deceived them. for they
Will recognize that the mass Of the French
nation, who will receive the news of the
conviction of Dreyfus as joyful tidings. is
not composed Of officials and that the ma
jority of the French applaud the condemna-
ton, it will be because 1t is just and mer-
tied"
Rennes, Aug. 21.-At the court-mar-
tial session Saturday the first witness
was Maj. Cuignet, the officer who some
weeks ago was dismissed from the army
for communicating to the Petit JourneI
confidential correspondence exchanged
between the minister of war and the
minister of foreign affairs regarding
the Panizzardi dispatch. Mai CuIonet
declared, like the preceding military
witnesses, his conviction of the guilt
of Dreyfus, based On the alleged confes-
sion to Lebrun-Renault. technical ex-
PLANTATION of the bordereau and the Sc
cret dossier. The major added fourth
reason in his confidence in the graphic
logical demonstration made by VI. Der.
tillon
This demonstration was so remarka-
Bile as to raise doubts as to the sanity
OF NJ. Bertillon. and caused the mu-
nicipal council to pass resolution to
deprive him of his functions at the pre-
lecture of police Maj. Cuignet's decIa--
alton caused great sensation in court
That officer then embarked in discus
sion of the case, which. however. added
nothing new to the arguments before
the court of cessation.
Dreyfus listened for some time with
evident Impotence and then suddenly
rose and, addressing the president of
the court-martiaI- exclaimed: Mon
colonel, can't sit still and listen all
the time to such lies
Maj. Cuignet, continuing. came to the
question OF the alleged letter of Col.
Schneider, quoted by Gen. MERCER in
his deposition. His attention was
drawn to the fact that Col Schneider
denounces the letter as a forgery.
II am told that this denial is dated
from Ems" replied Maj Cufgnet- We
place are not always truthful
This reference was to the famous
Bismarck dispatch. which precfDTtated
the war of 1870. The remark caused
loud murmurs in the court and led the
commissary Of the government TO pro-
test against such references to a for
eign officer accredited to the French
government.
The next witness should have been
Col. Du Patty de Clam, but when he was
called there was 10 reply Maftre De-
mango requested that he be again sum
moned.
The next witness was Gen. De Bots
deffre, who, like his predecessor. en-
tered into a history of the bordereau
and alleged confessions. His deposition
was entirely lacking IN what had been
expected from him. He confirmed the
statement of Gen. Mercier that there
were fears of war on January s. 1895.
When the general finished Dreyfus
was asked if he desired TO put any ques-
tons. He replied that he had nothing
to say to Gen. de Boisdeffre (Sensa-
ton in court).
The next witness was Gen. Gonse-
who talked in a very indistinct tone of
voice. He spoke at length regarding his
differences with Col. Piequart about Es-
terhazy.
Dreyfus entered into a long argument
with Gen. Gonse regarding the posi-
Eility of introducing strangers into the
ministry Of war. Gen Gonse main
tanned that this was possible. but Drey-
fus finally forced the general to- adj
NIT that without written permit It
could not be done
The sitting closed with the deposition
of Gen. Billot regarding the expendI-
lures of the secret service fund. which
entirely confirmed the statements of
Col. Picquart, a statement which caused
applause in the court
Paris, Aug. 21.-It is stated that Col.
Schneider, Austrian military attacbe
at Paris, will come here from Ems
next Wednesday to prosecute Gen.
Mercier. The latter produced docu-