The Portland daily press., 1899-08-15

the next witness. He sid he had son, q
knowiedge Of the Oreyfus effair 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 min
istry the witness continued NJ Sherturer-
kestner, u former ce-president OF the
Senate). asked him whether be ought
not to investigate the Dreyfus affair.
M. Soheurer- kestnsr, thegCieneral pointed
out, had made similar representations to
NJ. DE freycinet and got the same reply
from 10th that neither of them were very
conversknt with the affair.
Gen. Blot dwelt at length upon the act.
ion taken by III. Scheurer- -Kestner to
which he recommended prufence. NJ.
Scheurer- -kestner finally communicated
TO Gen. Blot his conviction of the inno-
ceEcs of Dreyfus, but the general found
the evidence insufficient and asked him
60 inEestigats The matter further.
The General then touched upon the role
of Col Plcquart whom he said, he held
In the highest esteem.
"He is Intelligent" said Gen. Blot,
.and gave me valuable informRtion
atout the organization Of the neighboring
army ard It's artillery. This informa-
tion showed the necessity of oontin uina
the reforms in our artillery commenced
| py that great initiator, Gen. Mercier."
After this Gen. Blot referred to Col.
Pioqunrt's proposition to entrap Ester
hszy whom hs suspected, but Gen. Blot
| forbade this. he added that Col. Pic
quart always acted without authoriza-
tion. The former minister of war next
referred TO the eminent services Col.
ficquart rendered the army, leading to
his being entrusted with a confidential
mission to the East and afterwards %
Iunis; He energetically protested against
The allegation that he had decided to
send Pfoquurt to q place from which he
| wonid never return. He explained tina,
his devotion to the army and country
aud his anxiety respecting the secrets Of
| the national defense often entailed exoep-
tionsl n easurss. like resignation and 90.
ing 10 distant points whence it would
| be possible to return with a superior rank
and where heroism certainly wiped ont
everything treason. (Sensation.
Afber lustifytBg his course towards Col.
Piqnart, Gen. Billot explained what he
| had done In connection with Eeterhazy
and then continued mis- protest against
the attack the defenders of Drey fus mad
on him during the trial of NJ Zoia. NJ.
Demange ther invited Gen. Billot to ex.
plain the statements Of I'M. Barthou and
Poinoare, former ministers, that the
Generai. WAS once SO doubtful of the
guilt Of Dreyfus that be had not slept
Tor several nights. Gen. Billot aeknow-
ac0Sed thhb bnd btutCtutnnA WbF6 Irue.
Answering questions of the counsel the
General said Col. Pioquart.s revelation
prod nced doubt In his mind, but all the
same his conviction of the guilt of DTey-
fus remained unchanged
There was great sensation when NJ
Demange mentioned the opinion ex.
pressed by NJ. Barthou that Gen. Billol
had been forewaraedy In regard 10 the
forgery OF Lieut.. Col. Henry. The gen.
erhi acknowledged that the Henry forgery
Was among the factors aronslng his
doubts
Gen. Blllot said he sas immensely sur.
prised and deeply affected by the reyela.
tion Of the forgery.
M. Cayaignac, former minister of war.
was the next witness called. REPLYING
to the president OF the court, he said be
was the first cabinet minister to a. sume
responsibility to Dreyfus. He had close.
iy followed the inquiry of the court of
cessation and still desired to associate
himself with the responsibility Of those
who in 1854. protected the country aud
the army against treason. (Ssnsation,)
Continuing, the witness said that
amount the principal points upon which
he based his convictions was the confes-
sion 70 Capt. LRbrun- -kenault in support
OF which contention he quoted passage
from an alleged letter of Dreyfus but
which, IN reality was part of Gen. Gonss's 1
report OF the minister of war on Du Patty
de Clani's report of the alleged confession.
M, Cavaignae admitted the possibility
OF mistakes on testimony and said they
ought to be taken into account when con-
demning fellow man. But, he asserted,
be was convinced Of the guilt of Drey.
tus because mis- aocusers were so entirely
in agreement In their testimony.
The witness also said he found aCitii-
tionai proofs OF the prisoners guilt In the
teohnloal Character OF the bordereau and
thought the hordereau alone established
the fact that treason had emanatsd from
the bureau OF the general staff and from
an otiieer who was able to secure all the
Information desired.
According to hi; eaVaignac. even in his
attempts TO hide his orime, the accused
had allowed words to escape him whish
indisputably established his guilt.
Everything, according ( to this witness,
condemned Dreyfns.
IL was established, witness asserted,
that the prisoner had copied plans OF the
proposed concentration Of the army. Wit
nesses. he said, would testify in support
Of his assertion.