Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-14
De Botsderre on the 9th relative to mo-

100 SAD ana 100 tragic me 10 ueSIe W
envenom the discussion 1 am master of
myself and of my conscience. l would
only state that Gen. MERCER has made
every effort to mix me as deeply pos
sible in this affair. But L have remained
aloof. | affirm. during the progress of the
Investigation
The former president then complained Of
the incorrect behavior of his subordinate
toward the chief of the state.
LAS an instance" said NJ. Casimir-Perier.
Gen MERCER undertook to shorten the
term of service of $4,000 men without con-
sultiug the chief of the state. thus lack
ing in the respect he owed to the chief of
the state
NJ. Casimir-Perier next protested against
the assertions made by Gen. Mercier in re-
gard to the role adopted by the chief of the
state in this affair. whereupon the general
INTERCEPTED that he had spoken of the attf-
tude assumed by NJ. Casfmir-Perier because
he had sworn to tell the whole truth
NJ. Demange asked Gen. Mercier if he had
explained to the cabinet how he reconciied
the relations of cause and effect and the
patriotic emotion aroused by tho treason
with the communication of the secret doc
uments to the court-marital.
Repeats Former Statement.
The general repeated his statement of
Saturday his hypothesis of the situation
NJ. Demange asked NJ Casimir-Perier If.
on the sixth. an understanding had not been
reached between France and Germany on
the subject of Drayfus.
NJ Casimir-Perier replied that before his
interview with the minister on the 9th the
question of Dreyfus had never been raised
between them and Germany.
NJ Demange asked Gen. Mercier why he
had not included in the dossier of 1854 the
doubtful translation of the telegram Ct
ugent .B" to his government under the date
of November 2.
In reply Gen. MERCER said not one of the
translate tons of the telegram was COM
municated to the judges, because there still
existed doubts in his mind. NJ. Demange
regarded that the text was communicated
to Sandherr official and therefore
doubts were impossible.
NJ. Demange then asked that NJ Pa1eo-
logue of the foreign office be recalled in or
der to state that only single version of the
telegram was given him, as he understood
General Merciers uncertainty was aroused
by the receipt of a semi-official draft of
the telegram
At this point Major Carriere, the repre-
sentative of the government. asked that it
be clearly shown that two versions of the
telegram were given. one official and one
semi-official NJ Demange said that in
communicating the official text November =
Sandherr emphasized it's official character.
Counsel next asked General MERCER why
the explanations of the secret dossier were
not included in the dossier relating to the
revision.
Mercier AstOnishes DemanEe.
The general replied that he considered
these explanations were given for his per-
sonal use, and that was why he destroyed
the document. AT this NJ. Demange eX-
pressed a sense of establishment and asked
General MERCER if he did not have reasons
for suppressing the document.
The witness repudiated the suggestion.
Dreyfus. at this point, rose from his seat
and asked leave to explain in regard to the
assertion that he had traced I. card an
itinerary of a certain journey of the gen.
erdl staff Both the itinerary and journey,
he asserted. were purely fictitious.
NJ. Casimir-Perier then said he desired to
reiterate that he had never promised any
thing to Dreyfus. adding that it with
NJ Waldeck-Rousseau alone that he had
spoken in regard to the condemned man.
Therefore. NJ. Casimr-Perier reiterated his
protests at the letters If Dreyfus referring
to negotiations.
This caused NJ. Demange to explain how
Dreyfus came to say NJ. Casmir- Perier had
promised him a public trial After NJ De
mango had asked NJ Waldeck-Rousseau to
intervene with NJ. CaSimir-Per then
President of Franco to obtain publicity,
NJ Waldeck-Rousseau reported that the
president appeared favorable to the sugges-
ton. and counsel therefore thought he
might communicate the fact to Dreyfus.
VI. Demange added that il must be re-
membered Dreyfus wrote the letter four
years after the occurrence: so his recollec
ton of the facts. naturally, lacked pre-
cision. VI. Demange expressed regret at
the fact that the letter had been published,
and apologized to NJ. Casimir-Perier, who
thanked counsel for his expression of regret
and explanation.
Gen. HilIOt Witness.
Gen. Billot. former minister of war was
the next witness. He was in uniform. sat
with crossed legs and gave his evidence
In conversational manner. He said he
would be seventy-One years old tomorrow.
Like everybody else. he added, he had some
knowledge of the DreyfuS affair before TAX
Ing the war portfolio. While feeling deeply
on the subject he remained aloof from the
matter until he entered the cabinet. In
the early days of his ministry. the minis
ter continued. NJ. Scheurer- Kestner "a for
mer vice president of the senate) asked
the Dreyfus affair NJ Scheurer-Kestner,
the general pointed out, had made similar
representations to NJ. de Freycnet and
got the same reply from both. that neither
of them was very conversant with the
affair.
Gen. Billot dwelt at length upon the ac-
ton taken by NJ. Scheurer-Kestner. to
whom he recommended prudence. NJ.
Scheurer-KeJtner finally communicated 10
Gen. Billot his conviction of the innocence
of Dreyfus. but the general found the evil
dence insufficient and asked him to inves-
tgate the matter further
The general then dwelt with the IoIe of
Col Picquart, whom. he said. he holds in
the highest esteem.
He is intelligent" said Gen. Billot, land
gave me valuable informant ton about the
organization of a neighboring army and
Its artillery. This Information showed the
necessity of continuing the reforms n our
artillery, commenced by that great intia-
tor. Gen. Mercier.
1. who am neither engineer nor an
expert in handwriting" added Gen. Billot
i'm hat ~