Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-19

the military set 1t was when the
Schneider dispatch was made known in
the refectories and the hotels. 1t was
q source OF jubilation to the other side
Gen. Mercier had greatly emphasized
the Importance OF the Schneider letter
when giving his evidence. His manner
was victorious when he handed the al
legged letter Of Col. Schneider to the
president of the court martial to be
added to and filed with the other papers
connected with the trial. These gen
erals at Rennes have no standing couil-
sells to advise them. They show
forensic ability in making speeches
when they ought to be giving evidence.
but they lack lawyer like prudence and
legal practice.
Any advocate would have felt how
risky it was to dwell on such docu-
ment as an intercepted letter from
military attache. especially in view of
the forgeries with which the secret dos
sier termed. After all that had trans
pired about the letters of military at
taches to each other in 1894. the at
tac}es In self defense We're bound to
discredit everything in the secret dos
sers These letters were supported by
police reports. Were they published
the world would read them aghast. AS
at least 127 persons in all must haze
seen them, the authors, real or alleged,
would find themselves on the defen-
sive.
But these considerations never pre-
sented themselves to Gen. Mercier's
mind That he believed in the authen-
ticity of his document and pinned his
faith to it is now laughed at every
where. His best friends call him a
donkey and his enemies rejoice.
Col. Panizzardi trumps Col. Schnei-
der's denial of his alleged letter by
writing and branding az forgery the
report that Gen. Roget said he (Paniz-
zardD wrote to the lats Signor Ross
mann, the Italian ambassador, regard
Ing the relations of Col. Schwartzkop-
pen with Dreyfus
Col. Schneider sends his contradiction
to the Figaro from Ems, and Col.
Panizzardi makes use of that paper in
telegraphing from Rome to give the lie
to the whole of Roget's statement so
! far as it dealt with the alleged report
to Rossmann. The Figaro at once tele-
graphed both communications to
hotels for the edification of the pa
irons.
The Austrian and Italian embassies
attest the genu.neness of the Schneider
and Panizzardi dispatches. MERCER
feels that he has thrown the fat into
the fire and he looked depressed and
out of countenance. So did Roget, who
| is a stronger man, Notwithstanding the
tears he she'd at the close of his deposit
ton. Both We're tired and pale through
out the tiresome humiliation.
Gen. MERCER. had laid aside his fine
uniform and wore yesterday shabby
alpaca coat. He looked wretched with
out his fine belongings. Roget, however
came with all his gold lace and plumes
Col. Picquart was AGAIN witness
He was allowed to sit in an armchair
with which the generals had been sue
4 Icessyely accommodated. His voice was
pleasant. His diction is good. the en-
Ephasis never too emphatic and the ges-
iticulation seldom overdone. He gives
the impression of one who goes in for
the sober and the unadorned.
His defects are diffuseness, too great
facility and a drawn out style. But he
is not tedious. His arrangement of ar
guments is cumulative.
The presiding judge rubbed him often
against the grain and often begged him
not to be diffusive. not to speak so
much about his own concerns. but to
keep to the Dreyfus affair. Picquart
respectfully accepted these reproofs,
saying that he only spoke of his own
concerns in order TO vindicate his
character and prove himself a credit
able witness. He spent two hours
Thursday and four yesterday in giving
ievidence and remaining guardian angel
of Dreyfus, standing between him and
| the implacable enemies who sit on the
front seat of the witnesses. In this row
are Gems. Mercier and Ro ct and many
field officers, who are still unheard.
The Dreyfusites greatly fear for Pic
quarts life. The stalwarts among
them now guard him. He looks man
with an unpropitious star and has al
ways been unlucky, unless in having
that peace of soul that passeth under
standing. EMILY CRAWFORD.