The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-15


fession Dreyfus is alleged to have made
to Capt Lebrun-Renault.
M. Casimir-Perier persisted in his ate
ment of Saturday that he had nevsr re-
ceived any condolences of this character
from Capt. Lebrun- -Renault He added
that NJ. Dupuy, the then premier, was
present when Capt. Lebrun-Renau call
ed at the Elysee, Paris.
Moreover" said NJ. Casimir-Perier.
there is a letter from NJ. Dupuy, which
I ask may be read"
The letter asserted that Capt. Jebrun-
Renault, when questioned by M DupUY,
replied that Gen. MERCER had sent him
to the president to receive a dressing
down for his indiscreet disclosures to tbs
Figaro.
Gen. Mercier here interposed, saying:
capt. Lebrun-Renault spoke to me in
regard to the confessions in the pres 7nca
of Gen. Gonse, who wi testify thereto.
1t was then that 1 ordered him to go to
the president of the republic
Regarding Gen. Mercier's declarations
on Saturday last on the witness stand,
M. Casinir-Perier said:
Gen. Mercier had no right whatever to
intervene in a diplomatic conversation.
I would have prevented such interference.
It was 1 alone who conferred with the
minister, and 1 declare that the impress
sion l derived from that conversation was
one of complete calm; otherwise, the in
cident would not have been closed by
the framing of a note.
1--WE had no telegram from Berlin that
evening. 1t was in regard to a note the
minister referred to Berlin. If there had
been any news in regard to the matter
on the evening of the 9th we should not
have waited until the Sth to publish the
note. There was no dispatch address,
ed to a friendly power relative to the
incident"
The former president then complained
of the incorrect behavior of his subor-
dinate toward the chief of the state.
LAS an instance" said M. Casimir-Per-
ier, Gen. Mercier undertook to shorten
the term of service of $4,000 men without
consulting the chief of the state, thus
lacking in the respect he owed to the
chief of the state"
NJ. Casimir- -Perier next protested
against the assertions made by Gen.
Mercier, in regard to the role adopted
by the chief of the state in this affair,
whereupOn the general interrupted that
he had spoken of the attitude assumed
by M. Casimir-Perier because he had
sworn to tell the whole truth.
GEN. BILLOT TESTIFIEs.
Gen Bilot, former minister of war was
the next witness. He was in uniform,
sat with crossed legs and gave his evil
UeICe III a conversational manner. lie
SAID he would be seventy-one years of age
tomorrow. Like everybody else, he add
ed, he had some knowledge of the Drey-
fus affair before taking the war portfolio.
While feeling deeply on the subject, he
remained aloOf from the matter until he
returned to the cabinet In the early days
of his administration, the witness con-
tinued, M. Scheurer-Kestner Ga former
vice president of the senate) asked him
Thath hn oh Of fn inv tiornt fIoo
Dreyfus affair. M. Scheurer- -Kestner, the
general pointed out, had made similar rep
reservations to NJ. de Freycinet and got
the same reply from both-that neither
of them was very cOnversant with the
affair.
Gen. BiIot dwelt at length upon the
action taken by M. Scheurer- -Kestner, to
whom he recommended prudence. M
Scheurer-Kestner finally communicated
to Gen. Billot his conviction of the inno-
cence of Dreyfus but the general found
the evidence insufficient, and asked him to
investigate the matter further.
The general then dwelt upon the role
of Col. Picquart, whom, he stated, he
held in the highest esteem.
He is intelligent" said Gen Billot,
"and gave me valuable information about
the organization of a neighboring army
and its artillery. This information show
ed the necessity of continuing the reforms
in our artillery, commenced by that great
initiator, Gen. MERCER.
"I, who am neither an engineer nor an
expert in handwriting" added Gen. Billot,
"theI- saw in that direction the grand
work to be accomplished.'
After this Gen. Billot referred to Col
Picquart's proposition to entrap Ester
haZy, whom he suspected, but Gen Billot
forbade this. He admitted that Col Pic
quart always acted without authorization.
Gen. Billot next referred to the eminent
services Col. Picquart rendered to the
army, leading to his being entrusted with
confidential mission to the East, and
afterwards TO Tunis. He energetically pro-
tested against the allegation that he had
desired to send Col PicQuart to a place
from which he would never return. He
explained his devotion to the country and
army, and anxiety respecting the secrets
Of the national defense often entailed ex-
cepuonal measures, like resignation and
going to distant points whence it was
possible to return with a superior rank
and where herOism certainly wiped out
everything except treason. (Sensation)
After justifYing his course towards Col
Picquart, Gen. Billot explained what he
had done in connection with Esterhazv.
He then renewed his protests against the
attack the defenders of Dreyfus made
upon him during the trial of NJ. Zola, and
concluded with expressing a regret that
while in power he was obliged to devote
most of his time to the Dreyfus affair,
which time, he added, ought to have been
given to the guardianship of the national
defense
NJ Demange invited Gen. Billot to ex-
plain the statements of NM Barthou and
Poincaire, former ministers, that the gen
eral was once so doubtful of the guilt of
Dreyfus that he did not sleep for several
nights.
Gen. Billot acknowledged the statements
were true
Answering questions of counsel. the gem
eraI said Col. Picquarts revelations pro-
duced doubts in his mind but. he added
all the same his conviction of the guilt of
Dreyfus remained unchanged There was
a great sensation when NJ. Demange men
toned the opinion expressed by NJ Bar
thou, that Gen. Billot had been forewarr
ed in regard to the forgery of Lieut.. Col
Henry. The general acknowledged that
the Henry forgery was among the factors
arCusing his doubts.
Continuing, Gen. BillOt said he was i'm
mensely surprised and deeply affected bv
the revelation of the forgery. He said:
Il never could have believed a superior
officer could be guilty of forgery"
CAVAIGNAC HOSTILE.
NJ. Cavaignac, former minister of war.
was the next witness called.
Replying to the president of the court
he said he was the first cabinet minister
to assume responsibility to Dreyfus He
had closely followed the inquiry of the
court of cessation, and still desired to
associate himself with the public honor