The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-08-26
MERCER IS CONFIDENT.
Feels Certain That Dreyfus VIII He
Convicted-yerdict Is Said to
He Predetermined.

Clal from lscnneS says. ACCoiuiHB W
statements communicated from such
an exceptional source as TO carry un'
usual presumption of truth, the SEN
tence of Dreyfus is already decided
upon. He will be found guilty of dis
ciplinary indiscretions, for which he
will be sentenced to five years impris-
onment. AS he has served this term OF
sentence the practical result will be
that he will be set free and take his po-
sition in the army as n captain en- re-
forme, without pay or emoluments, and
any career in the active army will be
closed to him.
Rennes, Aug. 21.-Gen. MERCER, who
was minister of war when Capt. Drey-
fus was condemned, and who in the
present trial is the virtual prosecutor,
was called upon Sunday afternoon by a
correspondent of the Associated Press.
who invited him to make n statement OF
the position of the anti-Dreyfusards.
Although unable TO receive the CORE
spondent in person, Gen. MERCER sent
his Oldest son to convey the following
expression of his views:
|
tempt to convert foreign opinion regarding
| the Dreyfus question. in which, moreover.
| foreigners have no right to intervene. For
| eign peoples have been misled by their
press, which is violently Dreyfusard, for
| the very good reason that majority of the
| foreign newspapers have been bribed by the
| Jewish syndicate. Gen. MERCER considers
anything he might say explaining his po-
sition. which is that of majority of the
French people, would be useless. The best
reply to Dreyfusard statements abroad will
be condemnation of Dreyfus This con-
| demnation is only a matter of ten days or
| a fortnight, for condemned Dreyfus GER
| tainly will be- Foreigners will then see that
J their journals have deceived them, for they
| will recognize that the mass of the French
| nation, who will receive the news of the
! conviction of Dreyfus as joyful tidings, is
| not composed of officials and that the ma
jority of the French applaud the condemna-
| ton, ii Will be because II is just and mer-
| tied"
Rennes, Aug. 21.--At the court-mar-
tial session Saturday the first witness
was Maj. Cuignet, the officer who some
weeks ago was dismissed from the army
| for communicating to the Petit Journel
confidential CORES oondence exchanged
between the minister of war and the
minister of foreign affairs regarding
the Panizzardi dispatch. Maj. Cuignet
| declared, like the preceding military
witnesses, his conviction of the guilt
of Dreyfus, based on the alleged confess
sion to Lebrun- Renault, technical ex-
PLANTATION of the bordereau and the Sc
cret dossier. The major added a fourth
reason in his confidence in the graphic
logical demonstration made by NJ. Ber-
tillon.
This demonstration was so remarlia-
bic as to raise doubts as to the sanity
Of NJ. Bertillon, and caused the mu-
nicipal council to pass resolution to
deprive him of his functions at the pre-
lecture OF police. Maj. Cuignet's declar-
alton caused great sensation in court.
That officer then embarked in discus
sion of the case, which, however, added
nothing new to the arguments before
the court Of cessation.
Dreyfus listened for some time with
evident impatience and then suddenly
rose and, addressing the president of
the court martial, eXclaimed: "NIon
colonel, can't sit still and listen all
the time TO such lies"
Maj. Cuignet. continuing, came TO the
question of the alleged letter of Col.
Schneider, quoted by Gen. MERCER in
his deposition. His attention was
drawn to the fact that Col. Schneider
denounces the letter as a forgery.
81 am told that this denial is dated
from Ems" replied Maj. Cuignet. 1--WE
know that the dispatches dated at that
place are not always truthful"
This reference was TO the famous
Bismarck dispatch, which precipitated
the war of 1870. The remark caused
loud murmurs in the court and led the
commissary of the government to pro-
test against such references to for.
eign officer accredited to the French
government.
The next witness should have been
Col. Du Patty de Clam, but when he was
called there was TO reply. Maitre De-
mango requested that he be again sum-
moned.
The next witness was Gen. de Bois-
deffre, who, like his predecessor, en-
tered into history of the bordereau
and alleged confessions. His deposition
was entirely lacking in what had been
expected from him. lie confirmed the
statement of Gen. MERCER that there
were fears of war on January G. 1895.
When the general finished Dreyfus
was asked If he desired to put any ques-
tons. lie replied that he had nothing
TO say to Gen. de Boisdeffre. (Sensa-
ton in court)!,
The next witness was Gen. Gonse,
who talked in very indistinct tone Of
voice. He spoke at length regarding his
differences with Col. Picquart about Es-
terhazy.
Dreyfus entered into n long argument
with Gen. Gonse regarding the posi-
bility of introducing strangers into the
ministry of war. Gen. Gonse main
tanned that this was possible, but Drey-
fus finally forced the general to adj
nit that without written permit II
could not be done.
The sitting closed with the deposition
of Gen. Billot regarding the expendi-
lures of the secret service fund, which
entirely confirmed the statements of
Col. Picquart, a statement which caused
applause in the court.