The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1899-09-01
A Drawn Battle.

Rennes, August 2e.-Nether side
was pleased with the outcome of to-
days proceedings before the court
martial that is trying Captain Dreyfus.
The Dreyfusards expected that Col
onel Cordier, who was deputy chief Of
intelligence department under the late
Lieutenant Colonel Henry, would testi-
fly that the bordereau was received
directly by the late Colonel Sandherr.
Had this expectation been realized
the testimony would have been a
strong point in favor of the accused,
because it would have been reply to
anti-Dreyfusards, who have all along
contended that Henry received the
bordereau and forwarded it to Sand
herr, thing he would not have done
had the bordereau been, as the Drey-
fusards assert, written by his accom-
plice, Esterhazey, for in that event,
Henry wonld have recognized the
handWritten when he received the
bordereau from the the German EN-.
bassy and would have suppressed it,
instead of forwarded it to Sand herr.
Colonel Cordier, however, testified
today that he was absent from the in
telligence department when the border
eau arrived, but that he believed it was
received by Henry.
Naturally, this statement elated the
anti-Dreyfusards, but they had no rea-
son to congratulate themselves upon
the remainder of Cordier's testimony,
as it was wholly in favor Dreyfus.
On the other hand, the procession of
generals and officers of the general
staff who demanded an opportunity to
confront Colonel Cordier was a good
piece of tactics from the point Of view
Of the antiDreyfusites, because, though
all the points they contested were not
Of the first Importance, yet their very
appearance on the stage and the con-
tradiction of some of Coreier's state
ment left disagreeable impression
The appearance Of General Mercier
to question Colonel Cordier came as
surprise to many in the audience, who
had supposed that after last Saturdays
scene, when Mercier was confronted
with Captain Freystaetter, he would
remain quiet; but Mercier is game to
the death. His action today is inter
preted as intended to show that he is
not gong to throw up the spongs.
The part he played in 1894 lays him
open to arrest, and this is constant
topic of discussion in the cafes and at
other meeting places in Rennes. There
appears, however. to be good reason
why the government will not take any
such serious step until the trial is oyer.
Colonel Jouaust. president of the
court-martial, could adjourn the the
trial indefinitely if Mercier, who is an
important witness, were arrested. If
the trial were adjourned for more than
forty-eight hours, it would lapse, and
the proceedings would have to be gone
over again from the beginning.
Today's attendance was the largest
since the beginning ofthe trial. Every
body was on the qui vive to hear the
testimony of Charles de Freycinet,
senator, former premier, former minis.
ter Of foreign affairs, and former minis
ter of war. This adroit politician, the
white moase" of FIR rench politics, sat
upon the fence as we'll as he could His
expression of fear that the Dreyfus
agitation would injure the discipline of
the army annoyed the Dreyfusards, as
calculated to influence the judges
against the accused. But he followed
it with an eulogy Of the pioneer Of the
Dreyfus campaign, M. Scheurer Kest'
ner, former vice president Of the SEN
ate, whose character he said he held
in the highest esteem. M. Labori then
secured another confession favorable
to Dreyfus by getting M. De Freycinet
to admit that he could not recall sim
gle fact going to prove that money
had been sent into France from
aboardto promote campaign in favor
of Dreyfus.
The general feeling, however, is that
his appearance on the witness stand
has not materially helped accused.