Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-15

| was the next witness. He said ne had
some knowledge of the Dreyfus affair be-
| fore taking the war portfolio. While feel
ing deeply on the subject he remained
aloof from the matter until he returned
/ to the cabinet. In the early days of his
ministry, the witness continued, NJ
| Scheurer- Kestner Ga former vice presi-
! dent of the Scnate) asked him whether
/ he ought not to investigate the Drcyfus
affair NJ. Scheurer Ecstner, the general
pointed out had made similar representa-
| tons to NJ. De Freycinet and received the
same reply from both, that neither OF
| them Were very conversant with the
| affair. Gen. Blot dwelt at length upon
| the action taken by NJ. Schcurer- X tncr
| to whom he recommended prudence. NJ.
| Scheurcr kestner finally communicated
| to Gen. Blot his conviction of the limo
cencc Of Dreyfus but the general found
| the evidence insufficient and asked him
| to further investigate the -
| The general then touched upon the
role of Col. Picquart whom he said he
held in the highest esteem. He is in
tclliSent" said Gen. Blot. land gave
me valuable information about the or
ganization of "A neighboring army and
|
the necessity of continuing the re-
| forms in our artillery commenced by
that great initiator. Gen. MERCER.
| After this Gen. Blot referred to Col.
| Picquart's proposition to entrap Els
| terhazy. who he suspected but Gen.
| Eliot forbade this. He added that Col.
| Picquart always acted without au
thoriZation. The former minister of
war next referred to the eminent ser
vices rendered the army, leading to
his bing entrusted with a confidential
mission to the East and afterwards to
| the United States. He energetcally
! protested against the allegation that
| he had desired to send COL Picquart
! to Il place from which he would never
| return. He explained that his devo-
| tion to the country and army and his
| anxiety respecting the secrets of the
na tional defence often entailed eXcep-
| tiu3al measures. like resignation and
! .;n;' I; To distant points. where ii was
IoSsil le to return with superior rank
AID whore heroism certainly wiped
| out rNcrythinS except treason tSensa-
| tiunl
After justifying his course towards
| COL Picquart. Gen. Billot explained
| that he had explained what he had
done in connection with EsterhaZy and
| then renewed his protests against the
attack the defenders of Dreyfus made
upon him during that of NJ. lola.
NJ. Demange then invited Gen. Billot
to explain the statements Of NJ. Bar
thous and Poncare. former ministers,
| that the general was once so doubtful
| of the guilt of Dreyfus that he had not
| slept for several nights. General Billot
acknowledged that the statements
were true Answering questions of the
counsel, the general said Col Pic
quarts revelations produced doubt in
his mind, but all the same his convic-
| ton of the guilt of Dreyfus remained
unchanged.
There was a great sensation when
NJ. Demange mentioned the opinion eX-
pressed by NJ. BarthnuX that Gen.
Billot had been forewarned in regard
| to the forgery of Lieut.. Col. Henry
| The general acknowledged that the
Henry forgery was among the factors
arousing his doubts. General Billot
| said he was immensely surprised and
| deeply affected by the revelation Of the
| forgery.
NJ. Cavaignac. former minister of
| war was the next witness called. Re
| plying to ,nc president of the court he
| said he was the first cabinet minister
| to assume responsibility to Dreyfus.
| He had closely followed the inquiry Of
| he court Of cessation and still desired
| q associate himself with the response
5iltty of those. who. in 1894, protected
| the country and army against treason.
| (Sensation).
Continuing, the witness said that
| among the principal points upon which
| he based his convictions was the con
| fession to Capt. Lcbrun-Renault in
| support of which contention. he quoted
| from an alleged letter of Drcyfus but
which in reality was part of Gen.
| Gonse's report of the minister of war
on Du Patty dc CLAIMS report Of the
| alleged confession.
| NJ. Cavaignac admitted the possibil
ty of mistakes in human testimony
and said they ought to be taken into
| account when condemning fellow
man. But he asserted. ne was con-
| WINGED Of the guilt of DrcyfuS because
his accuscrs were so entirely in agree
| merit in their testimony.
| The witness also said he found ad-
| ditional proofs of the prisoners guilt
| in the technical character of the Dor
| lrrcau and thought the bordcrcau
| ,Ionc established the fact that treason
had emanatcd from the bureau of the
| general staff and from an officer who
| was able to secure all the information
| desired.
| According to NJ. Cavaignac, even in
his attempts to hide his crime, the ac-
| cused had allowed words to escape him
which indisputably established his
guilt Everything, according to TINS
| witness. condemned Dreyfus. 1t was
| established. the witness asserted, that
the prisoner had copied plans of the
| proposed concentration of the army.
| Witnesses. he said, would testify IN
| public court of his association
| During NJ. Cavaignac's araignment
| Drevfus was nervous and agitated.
| NJ Cavaignac next discussed the DIS
| patch Of Drcyfus and said his excuses Of
| lapse Of memory We're inadmissabie.
| Drevfus, he claimed. was aware OF the
| changes in the bridge corps belonging |"
| the artillery and also Of the details 81
| concentration. Why, then. the witness
| added, had he denied this knowledge?
| 1t was impossible according to NJ.