New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN MADE VIC
TINS OF THE HONOR OF THE
FRENCH ARMY"


-the honor Of the French Army" If it were
possible 10 reveal the secret chronicles Of the
French War Office it would be an easy mat
ter to prove that this is neither the first nor
the twentieth attempt on the part Of the War
Department officials 10 screen the guilty at the
expense Of the innocent
Near the end Of the reign Of Louis XIV
in France all the affairs Of the French Gov
eminent were in great confusion Count de
Bellegarde who was the colonel Of an artillery
regiment noticed that some other officers con-
nected with the arsenal were committing gross
frauds upon the Government in connivance
with contractors and inspectors. Being a man
Of honor and integrity. he promptly reported
the matter TO the Minister Of War. The latter
in turn reported il TO the Director Of the
Arsenal. General de Saint Auban. The general
Indignantly denied the colOnels charges, pro
testing the innocence both If himself and the
ether officers. and not satisfied with that, de-
nounced the colonel a traitor. The coonels
position was thus promptly changed from that
OF accUser 10 accused and investigation Of his
case was ordered the officer in charge Of it
being a particular chum of General SAINT
Auban The colonel was arrested, imprisoned,
put through the mockery of a trial. and SEN
fenced to degradation and close Imprisonment
vas carried out The colonel was practically
buried alive in a dungeon, where he was never
allowed to see any one. nor hear the sound Of
= human voice, while the scoundrels whom he
had accused were promoted and honored.
The colonels wife however. was woman OF
great spirit and resource. Confident Of her hus-
bands innocence she devoted her life to his
vindication. Another relative Of the colonel,
Baron De Chargey. also Interested himself in
the matter. and presently brought charges
against General Saint Auban Of having COM
mitted forgeries and having suborned perjury
in order to convict Colonel Dc Beucsarde Nari-
GUS other friends also interested themselves in
the matter. and soon were able TO present a
very strong case TO the Minister of War. He,
however. refused TO DO anything in the matter,
saying that the colOneIs case had been finally
adtudicated and could not be reopened. So the
matter dragged on until Louis Nv died. and
Luis XVI succeeded 10 the throne. Then the
Queen Marie Antoinette. became interested n
the case and through her efforts and influence
the Minister Of War was removed thorough
inquiry into the whole case was Instituted and
colonel de BelleEarde was released and fully
vro.ca;cd just about four years after his con-
d,-.nat.on. The points Of resemblance between
tins case and the Dreyfus case are obvious
mother. small but interesting, is that the
Christian name q the wife Of Colonel de Belle
garde was the same that Of the Ne Of Cap
tam Dreyfus namely, Luc.e.
THE CASE OF JEAN FABRY
Then there is The case OF Jean Fabry, who
never obtained full justice. On June = lSl3
court-martial at Strasburg, presided over oy
General Desbureaux sentenced Fabry by ma
j,-ity II five votes IN seven to five years Of
Il