New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20
ALL EYES ON RENNES.
THE FOREMOST REPRESENTATIVE OF
PARTISAN INTELLECT THRONG
THE BRETON CAPITAL.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE

fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNg.I
Rennes. Aug. 9-Notwithstandng the melo-
dramatic attitude Of the beeaguered anti-Se-
mtic garrison in the Rue Chabrol, and notwith-
standing the overwrought passions that may
at any moment afford to the Parsians op-
portunity to smell gunpowder, 1t is not Paris.
but Rennes that now attracts the interest of the
nation
The Breton capital is delightfully."- picturesque,
with its inns and cafes thronged by the fore
most representatives. of Partisan intellect,
sembled at little tin tables in the courtyard Of
the hotel where one them slipping coffee
grenadine NJ. Jules Claretie administrator
general of the Comedie Francaise: VI. Urban
Gobier, the author of "L'Armee Contre la Ma
ton; NJ Jean Jaures, the leader of Collectivist
Socialism; NJ. Georges Clairin the painter; NJ.
Jacques Bizet, son of the composer Of Carmen"
and his wife; NM Cornely and Rodey, of the
Figaro: NJ. Octave Mirbeau NJ Marcel Pre-
vost and NJ. Bernard Lazare. who was the first
man who dared publicly to Jenounce the court
martial of 1894 are at the rustic inn in the
suburbs Of Rennes called Les TrOis Marches.
where Colonel Picquart has also taken up his
quarters; while NJ. Ernest Judet, NJ. Maurice
Barres and a group Of uncompromisng Ma
dArmes charming little villa just opposite
the country house of NJ. Basch, where Maitre
Labor is rapidly becoming convsescent, is the
meeting place for Generals MERCER. Zurlnden,
Bot Roget Bolsdeffre. Gonse and Saint Ger
main and the former chiefs of the General Staff.
Passion is so intense that when former friends
who now happen to have different convictions
about Captain Dreyfus meet in the streets or
vIor apb oth n "a
chiens dc faIence.
All the evidence, the rulings OF the court ana
the facts bearing upon the trial are distorted to
fit the arguments OF one or the other OF the
sreat opposing camps into which France is di-
vided Nothing better illustrates the present
moral atmosphere than tie actions of the Petit
Journal the "Gaulois" the "Eclair' and the
"Libre Parole" backed by the entire local press
throughout Brittany, which ignore Colonel
schneider's denunciation as a forgery the let
ter attributed to him by General Mercer which
was selected from the secret dossier and de-
clared by Generals Mercer and Roget to be
positive proof of Captain Dreyfus's guilt. Even
Colonel Picquarts clear and succinct testimony
is ridicued and falsely reported by the Petit
Journal" which to-day comments upon 1t in
the following words:
eagle, was most disastrous for Dreyfus. PIC
quart was caught in fagrante delicto OF false
hood. and he confessed his imposture. Tne
friends of Dreyfus, the arch traitor, are plunged
into CONSERVATION. Picquart has raise ana
tredcherous eye. which shuns an honest glance.
He is timid and embarrassed, and his voice is
insolent and provoking His lips have diaboh-
cal Machiavean wrinkles.
This absolutely false description Of Colonel
Picquart and his testimony fills the front page
of the Petit Journal this morning. and reaches
a million Of Frenchmen and French women who
never read any other newspaper and accept the
doctrines Of NJ. Judet as though they came from
a person in the pulpit. The fact that the forged
letter denounced by Colonel Schneider is the
eleventh forged document so far put In evidence
bv Captain Dreyfuss accusers is not alluded to
by the Petit Journal"
In spite of the prevailing passions, and in
snite of the somewhat unfavorable attitude and
rulings of the court martial, it should be re-
membered that if only three members Of the
court conclude that Captain Dreyfus is not
euty he will be acquitted. as the French code
does not require sentences Of court martial TO
he unanimous II the court is divided. three
against three the president is precluded troSl
giving his casting vote, and an acquittal must
be pronounced
This furnishes great hope for the defence FOR
I, is believed that already two members OF
the court. Lieutenant Colonel Brogniart and
Captain Parfait. are convinced that Captaih
Drevfus is innocent These two. moreover
wanted the secret dossier to be examined pub
licly. and not behind closed doors. C. b.