The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-15

| TO certain OF General MerCier'S inSinua
tions. Il do not wish to answer them,
said the eX-president; 1.-The circum
stances are too sad and too tragic 70
me to desire to enVenom the discussion
/ am master Of myself and of my con
science. | would only state that Gen
eral MERCER has made every effort tt
mix me as deeply as possible in this
affair. But | have remained aloOf, a!
l affirmed during the progress of tn,
investigation.
The ex-presdent then complained Of
the incorrect behavior of his subordi
nate towards the chief of the state
'As an instance" said M. Casimir- Per.
Ter, General MERCER undertook tC
shorten the term of service of $4,000
men without consulting the chief of the
owed to the chief of the state.
M. Casimir-Perier next protested
against the assertions made by General
MERCER in regard to the role adopted
by the chief of the state in this affair
Whereupon the general interjeeted the
assertion that he had spoken of the at
t1tude assumed by M. Casimir-Perier
| because he had sworn to tell the whole
| truth
M. Demange asked General MERCER if
he had explained to the cabinet how he
reconciled the patriotic emotion which
he asserted had been aroused in him by
the discovery of the treason with the
communication of the secret documents
to the court-martial. The general, in
reply, repeated his statement of Satur-
day.
AT this point M. Demange asked M.
Casimir-Perier if, on the 9Th, an under
standing had not been reached between
France and Germany on the subject Of
Dreyfus.
NJ. Casimir-Perier replied that before
his interview with the minister on the
9Th the question of Dreyfus had never
been raised between them and Gernla-
ny.
M. Demange asked General MERCER
why he had not included in the dossier
of 1894 the doubtful translation of the
telegram of Agent "B' to his govern
ment, under the date Of November 2.
In reply, General MERCER said that
none of the translations of the telegram
was communicated to the judges, be-
cause there still existed doubts in his
mind. M. Demange remarked that the
text was communicated to Sandherr as
official, and therefore doubts Were inn
possible.
M. Demange then asked that M. Pa
leologue of the foreign office be recalled
in order to state that only single YER
sion of the telegram was given him, as
he understood General Mercer's uncer-
NV ha nf
semi official draft of the telegram.
At this point Major Carriere, the rep
resentative of the government, asked
that it be clearly shown that two YER
sions of the telegram were given, one
official and one seni-oficial M. De-
mango said that in communicating the
official text on November Sandherr
its official character.
Counsel next asked General MERCER
why the explanations of the secret dos
sier were not included in the dossier re-
lating to the revision.
The general replied that he consider
ed that these explanations were given
for his personal use, and that was why
he destroyed the document At this M.
Demange expressed a sense of aston
and asked General MERCER if
he did not have reasons for suppress
ing the document. The witness repu-
dated the suggestion.
Dreyfus, at this point, rose from his
seat and asked leave to explain in re-
gard to the assertion that he had traced
IN a card the itinerary of a certain
Journey of the general staff. Both the
itinerary and journey, he asserted, We're
purely fictitious.
THE DREYFUS LETTER EXPLAIN
ED
NJ Casimir- Perier then said he desir-
ID to reiterate that he had never prom |
sed anything to Dreyfus, adding that |
t was with NJ Waldeck- Rousseau, then |
me of the vice presidents of the senate |
llone that he had spoken in regard to |
he condemned man. Therefore, M
Jasimir-Perier reiterated his protests
gainst the letters of Dreyfus referring
O negotiations
This caused M. Demange to explain
low Dreyfus came to say that NJ Cast
had promised him a public
rial After M. Demange had asked M.
Rousseau to intervene with M.
'asimir-Perier, then president of
rance, to obtain publicity, NJ Wal
eek Rousseau reported that the pres
lent appeared favorable to the sug
estion, and counsel, therefore, thought
e might communicate the fact to
)reyfus.
M. Demange added that it must be
smembered that Dreyfus wrote the let
er four years after the occurrence and
is recollection of the facts, naturally, {
lcked precision. M. Demange express
/ regret that the letter had been pub
she'd and apologzed to NJ Casimir- ;
erier, who thanked counsel for his eX {
ression of regret and explanation. /
GENERAL BILLOT A WITNESS.
General Billot, ex-minster of war, t
as the next witness. He was in uni /
)rm, sat with crossed legs and gave s
Is evidence in conversational man '
er He said that he would be seventy s
le years of age tomorrow. Like every 6
1dy else, he added, he had some Y
nowledge of the Dreyfus affair before
king the war portfolio. While feeling I
eeply on the subject, he remained aloof
ON the matter until he returned to f
lie cabinet In the early days of his b
inistry, the witness continued M. Z
an eX-vice president E
the senate, asked him whether he C
light not to investigate the Dreyfus h