The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-06
Journalists Crowd In
to Peaceful French
City,
THE TRIAL OF DREYFus.
Arrival of MERCER and
Picquart Causes Minor
Demonstrations.

Rennes, Aug. 5.-Rennes has awak-
ened from it's normal condition OF
sleepiness, and with the arrival of hun
dreds of journalists from all parts OF
the world and witnesses and other &C
tors in the Dreyfus drama, the town is
assuming an animated appearance. The
terraces in front of the cafes are full
OF people warmly discussing the coming
trial which opens Monday morning at
80 or o'clock.
Gen. MERCER, who was minister OF
war when Dreyfus was condemned, ar
rived from Paris this afternoon. He
was dressed in mufti and his face
showed an anxious, careworn look. A
large number Of persons had gathered
on the platform at the railway station
to witness his arrival, but no notewor-
y thy incident occurred.
The leading event of the day was the
arrival of the hero of the Dreyfus af-
fair" Lieut.. Col. Georges Picquart Col
Picquart wore bowler hat and dark
suit. His train arrived at o'clock this
eventng-an hour late, and only few
persons were present at the station ex-
cept the detectives and police officer.
AS Col. Picquart entered the carriage
which Maitre Labori, counsel for Drey-
fuS, had waiting for him in the station
yard, some of the spectators shouted:
'Vive Picquart" and "Vive Dreyfus. .
These shouts elected counter cries OF
"A bas Picquart" and "a mort, leau''
o, ia
But the bark Of the latter was worse
than their bite, for not the slightest at
tempt was made to carry out
the threats, which Col. Picquart
utterly ignored. He did not
give even a glance to the shouters
as his carriage drove quickly away to
a private house in the town, after q
brief call at Maitre Labori's residence.
The authorities are apparently be-
coming anxious regarding the mainte-
nance of tranquility in Rennes during
the trial, owing to invasions Of the town
by crowd of anti-Dreyfusard agitat-
ors, and heroic police measures were
taken this evening TO insure peace dur
ing a couple Of opposition meetings,
which were quite private. A small
number of people assembled in the
neighborhood of the houses where
\ the meetings were held, and this led
tne authorities 10 mOplllZe IN the 10
cality a force Of policemen on foot
mounted gendarmes and swarm of de-
tectiyes, who closed the streets in the
vicinity, although there was not the
slightest sign of disorder.
Cards Of admission to the trial were
issued this afternoon to the represent
atives of the press. Every two foreign
correspondents, without exception, re-
ceived one card between them, which
means that the leading papers of the
world outside of France will only be
able to be represented every other day.
Capt. Dreyfus will be conducted to
the new court room in the Lycee, which
faces the military prison across the
y broad avenue De La Care, every morn
ing, and return in the evening between
a double row of gendarmes Workmen
& have been busy today fitting up the
4 Sale Des Fetes in the Lycee for the
b trial and the installation of benches
desk, ETC., is already practically COM
pleted. A large crucifix has beer
brought from the military chapel an6
a hung behind the seats of the judges
which are placed on the stage. AS the
Sale Des Fetes is already a theatre
q the proscenium has been left un.
touched and will form a frame for the
scenes of trial.