The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-08

Rennes, September 6.-The salvation ,
Of Captain Dreyfus hangs on a word
from Emperor William. This is the gen.
eraQ opinion here tonight. If the kaiser
consents to allow Colonel Schwartzkop-
pen, the German military attache in
Paris in 1894, to testify before the court
martial or to send a deposition, or,
what is considered still more probable,
to allow his deposition to be accompan-
led by the actual documents mentioned
in the bordereau, then Dreyfus is saved.
If the emperor, however, decides that
it is not in the interests of Germany
for Colonel Schwartzkoppen to inter-
vene, then Dreyfus' case is hopeless and
his condemnation certain.
Tonight the eyes of France are look
ing across the frontier to Stuttgart,
where the kaiser is staying, and anxi-
ously awaiting his decision He is in
the position of the spectators of gladi-
atorial combat in the coliseum in an
cient Rome, with Dreyfus lying at the
foot of his antagonist and watching
whether the emperor points his thumb
up or down. At a late hour this even
ing he had given no sign either way,
and Frenchmen are waiting with
breathless interest the first indication
of his will
ARBITER OF PEACE OF FRANCE.
To all intents and purposes, Emperor
William stands today the arbiter of the
international peace of France, for ev-
cry one anticipates that King Hum
bert will follow his lead. This is prob
ably the explanation of the delay. En-
perOr William has gone TO Wurtem-
burg from Alsace-Lorraine, and King
Humbert is at Turin. Communication
between the two monarchs, therefore, is
somewhat complicated, and as they will
undoubtedly agree upon identical meas
ures in replying to NJ. Labori's appeal,
it is possible that several days will
eIapse before their decision is known.
The opinion generally held here is that
Emperor William and King Humbert
will allow Colonel GchwartZkoppen and
Colonel PaniZZardi to be examined by
a rogartory committee and their deposi
tions to be sent to Rennes with supple
mentary evidence from the originals Of
ESterhaZey'S reasonable cOmmunica-
ton.
"LABORTS TRICK"
The anti-Dreyfusards are extremely
exasperated at what they characterize
as NJ. Laboris trick" He had long
been seeking an excuse to invoke the
intervention of the German and Italian
sovereigns, and he seized the appear
ance of Cernuschi as his opportunity,
declaring that the admission of the ev-
idence this foreigner justified his appll-
cation regarding SchwartZkOppen and
Panizzardi.
It can be safely asserted that the
admission Of Cernuschi as a witness for
the prosecution came as veritable
God-Send to the defense, giving them
almost at the last moment a more or
less legitimate basis for M. Laboris ap
plication to summon the German and
italian attaches.
The anti-Dreyfusards assert that the
members of the court-martial will ig-
more the affirmations Of Colonels
Schwartzkoppen and PaniZzardi be-
cause they recognize that the testi-
mony of these officers will be given by
order with a view to save their own
spy, but in less prejudiced circles it is
believed that the court cannot disre-
gard the solemn declarations of the two
attaches without giving rise to a still
more grave situation in an internation-
al sense than now prevails.
THREE THRILLING EPISODES.
Today's public proceedings were
marked by three important episodes
The first was General Zurlinden'S ad-
mission that the erasure and restitu-
ton of EsterhaZey's name in the petit
bleu could not have been perpetrated
by Colonel PicQuart and, consequently
must be attributed to some one inside
the general staff.
The second was the declaration by NJ
Paleologue that the secret dosS:er con-
tained a document which showed that
Colonel Schwartzkoppen admitted his
relations with Esterhazey, and thai
Schwartzkoppen, in the opinion of Pa
lelogue, sent to EsterhaZey the identi-
cal petit bleu for which Colonel P1r.
quart was detained ten months on q
charge of forgery.
The third was General Billot's insinu
alton that Esterhazey and Captain
Dreyfus were accomplices, which Lex
to an impaSSioned proteStation on rh'
part of the accused and to a thrilling
scene between M. Labori and Colone
Jouaust, resulting in the advocates ex
cited denunciation of Colonel JouauSt'!
treatment of him. denunciation tanta'
mount to an accusation of open par
tiality.
General Zurlinden's admission tha
Colonel Picquart could not have per
petrated the eraSure in the petit blel
was a startling incident
Then the statement by NJ. Palelogu'
that Colonel Schwartzkoppen had ad
mitted that it was almost certain tina
the petit bleu was sent by him or caus
ed to be sent by him to Esterhaze.
caused a sensation, as being the frs
official testimony to the treason Of Es
terhazey. And it was certainly a stron;
point i'm favor Of Dreyfus, the import
ance of which was Immediately seer
by the prosecution anu shown subse
ouently in General BillotS broad insin
uation of completely between Dreyfu
and EsterhaZey.
From a spectacular point or view