The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-05
Three Regiments Held
For Emergency.
A Step Which May Delay Trial
Several Weeks.

Reunes. September "A the end OF
the Dreyfus court martial comes within
sight, the French government is begin.
ming to display q fear that the verdict
may give rise to troubles and orders have
just been received by two regiments of
infantry and one casalry regiment al.
ready within hail Of Rennes, to hold
themselves In readiness to march ON the
town at the first sign Of disorder.
The local anti-Dreyfusard organs, by
their anti-foreign articles, have already
singled out foreigners as enemies of the
country and there is little dou BIT that for
eign Journalists Will be the first victims
of the violence of the mob-not so much
Anglo-Saxons as Austrian, German and
Russian Jews, who form q majority OF
the press representation of their respec-
tive countries. Today's session opened
rather badly for Captain Dreyfus as
surprise was sprung upon the defense In
the advent OF an A ustrian political
refugee, Eugene Cernusohi, who came
out with fat-footed denunciation of the
accused, which, even though 1t may
eventually prove a pure fairy tale, Is
bound for the momenE to exercise "a
malignant influence upon tho French
people.
Maitre Labori announced his int sntioa
in view of the step taken by the preseous
tion in calling foreign evidence to ask
that Inquiry should be made through
the regular diplomatic channels as to
whether the documents mentioned in the
bcrdsrsau were actually communicated
and II so by whom. This involves an ap
pllcation to the German government,
which the court martial is scarcely likely
TO approve. In any case the application
means the iengthsning Of the trial for
several weeks
NJ. Pninleve, the distinguished mathe-
maticiau, coPneied General Gonse on
the la tiers falsifIed version of III. Haca-
mard's remarks concerning Captain Drey-
fus and the manner in which Gonse
squirmed and his wos-bsgone appearance
almost aroused pity for him. General
Roget also appeared to begin TO feel at
last the cruel strokes the etat major has
been receiving Of late. He left the stage
after very poor display and quilted the
court room as soon as the proceedings
were over.
The session ended with an exposure by
M. Hennion, chief of the Paris dstso-
tIves, of the disgraceful tactics of the
etat major in suppressiDg his report in
favor of Captain Dreyfus ard inserting
q document more or less unfavorable to
him.
The session opened very intere stingly
with the appearance Of the first witness,
nj. Coinuschi. He wss dressed In
brown lounging suit. his features are
unprepossessing and in fact his general
appearance did very little credit to the
Servian royal house. to which 1t is al
legged that he belongs. His letter to Ccl-
onel Jouaust Offering his testimony stated
that having been mixed up in political
troubles In Austria Hungary he had been
Obliged to seek refuge in France, where
he had a friend who. was high official
of the foreign oil 70 of a central Europ.
can power. This friend, the witness said,
told him that certain foreign agents in
France might denounce him the iirst
name mentioned being that OF Dreyfus
Another otticeF, q foreign general OF staff,
similarly warned him. One day the wit
ness said, when he was visiting the latter
he saw him take from his pocket avolum-
inous packet containing military docu-
ments. The officer said that in France
one could buy anything adding: "What
is the good OF Jews If you don't uss
rnemsH
Eeing asked If ne had inquired the
name of the traitor on this case, NJ
Coinuschi replied, "Nc. because the off
Ger had already said Dreyfus was his
informant.
This answer and the tone in which it
was delivered evoked movement of in
oredulity among the audience Major
Carrisre repres uting tDe Government
asked that the sourt hold further exam
ination of this witness behind closed
doors, in view of the dipiomAtic S d } OF
his testimony.
III. Labori then arose and announced
that since the proseeu5 on had summoned
the aid of Foreigners he Intended to make
formal application to have complete steps
taken through foieign channels 30 ascer-
tain whether the dooumens mentioned
in the bordereau. were delivered TO a for
eign power and If so, by whnsa-
This, II Colonel Jounrst should cenNns
to the application, would have tas most