Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-15
the C0URTmARJIAL.
Continued from page -

waited until the Sth to publish the news.
There was not Il dispatch addressed to :,
friendly power relative to the Incident
which has been magnitied.
| Besides. in the event of diplomatic
complications. the President would have
| communicated with the minister of for
eign affairs
Cen MERCER replied that he went to
| the Elysee palace as minister of war. He
| recalled that Gen. De Boisdeffrc could
| testify in regard to the orders received.
| NJ. Demange seized upon this declara :
| ton and insisted that Gen. MERCER repeat
| the statement that he had given orders
| to Gen. De Boisdeffre on the 9Th relative
to mobilization.
NJ. Casimir- Pcrier rcsumirg his testi-
mony, said he did not desire to reply TO
| certain of Gen Merccr'S inSinuajions. i
do not wish to answer them" said the
| former President THE circumstance;
are too sad and too tragic for me to de-
| sire to cnvenom the discussion. | am
master of myself and my conscience. /
would only state that Gen. Mcrcicr has
made every effort to mix me as dpeply
as possible in this affair. But have re-
ilidiutu diupl. 1 ann ~ 100 80
ress of the investigation
The former President then complained
Of the incorrect behavior of his subordi-
rate toward the chief of the state.
"As an instance" said NJ Casimir-
Pericr. Gen. MERCER undertook To
shorten the term Of service of $1,000 men
without consulting the chief of the state
thus lacking in the respect he owed to
the chief of state.
NJ Casimir -Perier next protested
against the assertions made by Gen. Mcr-
cier in regard 10 the role adopted by the
chief of state in this affair. whereupoA
the general INTERCEPTED that he had sno-
ken of the attitude assumed by NJ. Cast
mir -Pericr because he had sworn to tell
the truth
NJ Demange asked Gen. MERCER if he
had explained to the cabinet how ne
reconciled the relations of cause ana
effect ana the patriotic emotion aroused
by the treason with the communication
Of secret documents to the courtmarlial.
The general repeated his statement OF
Saturday as his hypothesis Of the situa-
ton.
At this moment NJ. Demanee asked NJ
Casimir-Pcrier if. on the 9th, an under
standing had not been reached between
France and Germany on the subject of
Dreyfus.
NJ Casimir- Pcricr' replied that before
his interview with the minister on the 9Th
the question Of Dreyfus had never been
raised between them and Germany.
NJ. Demanec asked Gen. MERCER why
| he had not included in the dossier of 1871
y. fII tram a he TELEGRAM
| of Agent b to his government under
the date OF NOV. ..
| Cen MERCER said not one of the trans
lations of the telegram --ad been COM
municated to the judges because there
| still existed doubts in his mind.
". Demange remarked that the text
! had been communicated TO Sandherr a.
official ana therefore doubts were impo'
| sible.
| NJ. DcmanGe then asked that Nj. Paleo-
| IOgue of the foreign office be recalled IN
order To state that only Il single version
of the telegram was given him. as he
understood Gen. Mercier's uncertainty
was aroused by the receipt Of a semi
official draft of the telegram. At this
point. Ma or Carricre, the representative
| of the government. asked that it be clear
| Is shown that two versions of the tcle
gram were given, one official and onr
semi official NJ. Demange said that in
communicating the official text, Nov r
| Sandherr emphasized its official char
! acter.
| Counsel next asked Gen. MERCER why
| the explanations of the secret dossier
were not included in the dossier relating
to the revision. The general replied that
he considered these explanations for HI
personal use ana that was why he de
| s;royed the document.
At this NJ. DcmauEc expressed a sens,
Of establishment and asked Gen. Merciei
If he did not have reasons for suppress
ing the document. The witness rcpudi-
| ated the suggestion.
Dreyfus ut this point rose from his scat
and asked leave to explain in regard q
| The assertion that he had traced on Il
card the itinerary Of a certain journey OF
the general staff. Eoth the itinerary an
journey. he asserted, were purely hcti
tious.
NJ Casimir Pcriar then said he desired
to rcteratc that he had never promised
anything to Drcyfus. adding that it wa.
with NJ. Waldeck Rousseau alone that n
had spoken in regard 10 the condemnc&
man. Therefore, NJ. casimir- pericr r.
iterated his protests AT the letters y,
Drcyfus referring to negotiations.
This caused NJ. DcmanEe to explain how
Dreyfus came to say that NJ Casimir-
Pericr had promised him Il public trial
After NJ. Dcmange had asked NJ. Wal
! deck Rousseau to intervene with NJ
Casimir Pcrier Uhen President Of France
to obtain publicity, NJ. Waldcck Rous-
seau reported that the President appeared
! favorable to the suggestion and counsel
therefore might communicate the fact t.
| Dreyfus.
! NJ. DcmanSc added that il must be re
membcrcd Drcyfus wrote the last letter.
four years after the Occurrences, and his
recollection of the facts naturally lacked
precision. NJ. Dcmange expressed regret
at the fact that the letter had been pub
lishcd and apologiZed to NJ. Casimir