Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-08-21

NESDAY.
RENNES. August 20.-Gen. MERCER,
who was Minister of War when Captain
Dreyfus was condemned and who in
the present trial is the virtual prosecu-
tor, was called upon this afternoon by
the correspondent of the Associated
Press, who invited him to make state
ment of the position of the anti-Drey-
fusards:
Although unable to receive the cor
respondent in person, Gen. MERCER sent
his oldest son to convey the following
expression of his views:
Gen. MERCER considers it useless to
attempt to convert foreign opinion re-
garding the Dreyfus question, in which,
moreover, foreigners have no right to
intervene. Foreign peoples have been
misled by their press, which is violently
Dreyfusard, for the very good reason
that a majority of the foreign news
papers have been bribed by the Jewish
syndicate Gen. MERCER considers any
thing he might say explaining his po-
sition, which is that of majority OF
the French people, would be useless.
The best reply to Dreyfusard state
ments abroad will be the condemnation
of Dreyfus.
''This condemnation is only matter
of ten days or fortnight, for con-
demned Dreyfus certainly 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 fools
and that if the majority of French APP
plaud the condemnation it will be be-
cause it is just and merIted."
The Associated Press correspondent
then called upon Maitre Labori, who
lives within two hundred yards of Gen.
MERCER, the houses of both being
guarded by gendarmes and detectives
who sit in chairs in the roadway in
front of the houses.
M. Labori was taking the air in the
garden. He has been suffering severe
ly from insomnia and to-day was fever
ish and excited. The wound itself has
not made the progress the doctors
hoped for, although there has been no
relapse.
In view of his general condition, his
medical advisers oppose his going to
court tomorrow, as he had desired.
They predict that the exertion would
so overtax his strength as to compel
him to take to his bed which he prob
ably would not leave, in that event, for
a month.
Tuesday or Wednesday, therefore,
will more probably see his reappear-
ance in court. He will be provided
with a specially constructed chair that
will enable him to conduct the cross
examination at the outset withiut ris-
ing from his seat.
NJ Labori is intensely anxious to re-
turn to court, even If he has to be car
ried there in an ambulance. He is dis
satisfied with NJ. Demange's conduct of
the case thus far, and ON his return
he intends to have Gen. MERCER and
the other generals back upon the wit
ness stand. After reading their evil
dence, he is confident of his ability to
crush MERCER and he expects to use
the Schneider and Panazzardi tele-
grams also to confound MERCER.
PARIS, August 20.-According to the
Echo de Paris, as a consequence of Cap
tain Cuignets evidence, Gen. Chamoin, who
took the war office secret dosser to Rem
nes has started suddenly for Paris.
The Echo de Paris in commenting upon
the testimony offered at Rennes yesterday
by Captain Cuignet, the former attache of
the Ministry of War, to whom was as
signed last year the task of collecting mat
ter bearing upon the Dreyfus, Picquart and
Esterhazy affairs says:
Captain Cuignet's evidence shows that
the whole secret dossier has not been COM
municated to the courtmartial. a docu-
ment has been withheld which proves the
existence of a vast network of espionage
under the direction of foreign military at
taches and of negotiations on the subject
of the Dreyfus case between several French
notabilities and the representatives of for
eign powers.
The dossier, moreover, contains proofs
that the sum of 100000 francs was re-
ceived in France from abroad for the pur-
pose of prosecuting pro-Dreyfus cam
paign.''
PREDICTS AUQUITTkL.