New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-25
A FIELD DAY AT RENNES
BATTLE ROYAL BETWEEN LA.
BORI AND THE GENERALS.
MERCER AND HIS ALLIES SAVED BIZ
COLONEL JOUAUST-PARTIALITY
OF THE COURT AGAIN
SHOWN.


SHOWN
Rennes. Aug 2i-To-day's session % the
Dreyfus court martial was marked by one OF the
most exciting OF the trial The pro-
ceedngs opened with a skirmish entirely favor
able TO the defence Colonel Maurel. pres
ident CT the court martial Of 1894 who admitted
reading one Of the secret documents 10 the court
which had not been seen by the defence. He
protested that only one document was looked
at. alleging that this sufficed 10 enable him 10
form a conviction that could not be shaken.
This protest made matters worse. because
NJ. Labor pointed out IL he perused one II was
his bounden duty TO peruse all Colonel Jouaust
upheld Colonel Maurel in his refusal 10 indicate
the nature Of the document he read. but VI.
Labori announced that he would summon Cap
tain Freystatter. another member OF the trf-
bunal Of 1894. and get his version Of what then
passed behind the backs OF the counsel for the
defence. Colonel Maurel felt his position keen
ly. and continually hesItated before replying to
Labori's questions.
MERCER DRIVEN IN A CORNER.
All this. however was only preliminary 70 Q
fierce battle that ensued between " Laborf and
General Mercier. the latter receiving reinforce
ments from Generals Roget. Gonse and De Bos-
deffre. well invaluable assistance from
Colonel Jouaust himself. W. Labor took Cen
eral MERCER the whole ground of his pre-
vious deposition. This led 10 several sharp pas
sages at arms between the advocate and Colonel
Jouaust. who upheld Mercier in refusing TO re-
ply TO several questions which In the general
opinion Of those in the courtroom were distinct
ly pertinent.
Whenever General Mercier was cornered he
declined to answer. and Colonel Jouaust invaris-
bly, supported him. VI Labori protested most
energetcally. His words and manner breathed
the deepest Indignation. but the president ot the
court martial infexbe. The Intervention
OF Generals Gonse, Roget and De Boisdeffre and
Major Lauth. who in rapid succession mounted
the stage or rose in their seats and interposed
remarks. very exciting and carried the
spectators along on a wave OF breathless in
terest. One after the other these officers who
were to-day in full uniform. would jump up and
cry. II demand to be heard"' and. without fur
ther waiting. ascend the steps ~ the platform
and begin statement In support of brother
officer Sometimes four officers were on the
stage at the same moment II a marvellous
display OF military clannshness. At time
perfect babel Of voices ,eigned for several min
utes. until Colonel Jouaust intervened and re-
stored order.
BODIES ILL FOR DREYFUs.
! " LasorPs cross-exanlnAtion was Success
| ful so far as II went but Colonel Jouaust pre-
vented him pressing his advantage TO the ut
most In fact. Jouausts hostile attitude to-
ward the counsel for the defence then and
during the cross-examination Of the witness. NJ.
De Grandmaison, evoked the severest criticism
on the part Of the public present and BODIES
I'll for Dreyfus Not only Colonel Jouaust. but
the other judges displayed considerable impa-
tience during Laboris scathing cross-examina-
ton, shifting restlessy in their seats and drum
ming the table with the tips OF their fingers.
General Mercier faced Labori's fire with CAL
lous demeanor. standing on the platform, his
hands behind his back and his face only half
turned toward his questioner. once or twice
savage look in the eyes. an elevation in the
tone and a swaying to and fro OF the body re-
vealed the inner fires OF resentment
GENERAL RoGETs EFFRoNTERY
General Roget faced the court with an air Of
unblushing effrontery. His handsome but un-
sympathetic features expressed the bitterest
scorn he spun round on his heel and with
arms crossed faced Labori. or the audience.
or the judges. He s extremely vain. and Is
always striking attitudes for the benefit OF
regularly attend the sessions. His inpertinent
behavior was strikingly illustrated to-day
when he interrupted NJ. Labori's examination
OF General Chanone, which had resulted in
Laboris scoring heavily against Mercier, with
the exclamation: This examination Is a waste
OF time!"
As matter Of fact. the examination or
Chanoine showed Mercier in a very bad light. as
II brought out that he had privately communi-
Gated TO Chanoine on the first day OF the secret
sessions a report on the Panizzardi dispatch for
insertion in the secret dossier General Cha
none admitted that he did wrong in accepting
the report but pleaded ignorance in judicial
matters The report consisted OF three pages. OF
which the second and third. Chanoine declared.
contained fantastic and. in fact, false repre-
sentations
NJ Labori brought General Mercier 70 the oar
in reference TO this Mer,ier admitted that the
report emanated from Du Patty de Clam. but
asserted that he himself did not understand its
contents though he thought IL would De IN
terestng. and. perhaps, useful 10 Chanoine.
combined with other shady actions. would damn
Mercier a witness in rhe eyes or any impair
tial tribunal
Nine Labori said this afternoon. regarding
her husbands condition. that he was making
rapid progress, though still lufering considera-
BILE pain The way he is recovering, she ex-
claimed, seems 10 IRE almost miraculous.
,urTY, mn ny nIrTATY