The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-08-24
The French Ex-Minister of War
Says Capt. Dreyfus Will
Be Condemned.
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF A few DAYS.
Mercier Says 1t is Useless to Attempt
TO Convert Foreign Opinion
Regarding the Question.
N. I abort IL Anxious to Return to Court
Even II lie Has to lie Carried m An
AmbulaBcc-Is Dissatisfied
With VI. Demsnge.

was minister of war when Capt. Drey-
fus was condemned and who in the
present trial is the virtual prosecutor,
was called upon Sunday by the
correspondent of the Associated Press,
who invited him TO make statement
Of the position OF the anti-DrcyfusardS.
Although unable 10 receive the cor
respondent in person Gen. Mercicr sent
his Oldest son to convey the following
expression of his views:
"Gen. Mercicr considers it useless to
attempt to convert foreign opinion
regarding the Drcyfus question. in
which, moreover, foreigners have no
right to intervene. Foreign people
have been misled by their press, which
is violently DreyfuSard, for the very
good reason that "A majority of the
foreign newspapers have been bribed
by the Jewish syndicate. Gen Mercier
considers anything he might say ex-
planning his position. which is that Of
a majority of the French people, would
lie useless. The best reply TO Dreyf fus-
ard statements abroad Will be the con-
demnation of Dreyfus.
This condemnation is only a matter
of ten days or fortnight, for con-
dcmned Dreyfus certainly will be.
Foreigners will then see that their jour
mails 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 composed of officials and
that the ma jor'y of the French ap-
plaud the condemnation. 1t will be
because it is ju t and mcrited."
The Associated Press correspondent
then called upon Maitrc Labor, vino
lives within 200 yards Of Gen. Mercier,
the houses of both being guarded by
gendarmes and detectives, who sit in
chairs in the roadway in front Of the
houses.
garden. lie has been suffering severe
ly from insomnia. and Sunday was
feversh and excited. The wound it.
self has not made the progress the doc
tors hoped for, although there had
been no relapse. In view of this gen.
eral condition his medical advisers OPP
pose his going to court Monday,
as he had desired. They predict
that the excrtion would so
overtax his strength as to compel him
to take to his bed, which he would
probably not leave, in that event for
a month.
Tuesday or Wednesday. therefore,
will more probably see his reappear-
ancc in court. lie will be provided
with a specially Constructed chair that
will enable him TO conduct the cross
examination at the outset without
rising from his seat.
NJ. Labori is intensely anxious to re-
turn to court even if he has TO be car
red there in an ambulance. lie is
dissatisfied with NJ. Demange's conduct
OF the case thus far, and on his return
he intend, to have Gen. Mcrcier and
the other generals back on the witness
stand. After reading their evidence
he is confident o. his ability TO crush
Mercier, and he expects to use the
Schneider and Pan:zzardi kilograms
also TO confound Mercicr.
RENNEs, Aug. 81. - The Dreyfus
court-martial reconvened Monday
morning at the usual hour. Maitre La
bori was not present. His doctors con-
sidered that it would he inadvisable
for him TO attempt 10 take part in Mon
days proceedings in view of the dam
ger of relapse.
The witness was Col FaOre, who de-
posed that he had discovered the sim
ilarity tetween the hand writing of
the accused and that of the bordereau.
lie reiterated his conviction of the
guilt of Dreyfus, saying: 81 am sure
he wrote the bordereau."