The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-15

hASAu Al highest eSLee1n lie Is 1nLelll-
gent" said Gen. Billot, land gave me
valuable information about the organi-
cation of a neighboring army and it's
artillery. This information showed the
necessity of continuing the reforms in
our artillery, commenced by that great
initiator, Gen. MERCER. l. who am nei-
Their an engineer nor an expert in hand
writing" added Gen. BilIot, saw in
that direction the grand work he ac-
complished.'
After this, Gen. Billot referred to Col.
Picquart's proposition to entrap Ester
hazy, whom he suspected, but Gen.
Billot forbade this. He added that Col.
Picquart always acted without authori-
cation. The former minister of war next
referred to the eminent services Col.
Picquart rendered to the army, leading
to his being intrusted with a confiden-
tial message to the east, and afterwards
to Tunis. He energetically protested
against the allegation that he had de-
sired to send Col Picquart to a place
from which he would never return He
explained that his devotion to the coun-
try and army, and his anxiety respect
ing the secrets of the national defence.
entailed exceptional measures, like res
ignation and going to distant points,
whence it was possible to return with
superior rank, and where heroism GER
tainly wiped out everything except
treason.
Answering questions of counsel, the
general said Col. Picquarts revelation
produced doubts in his mind, but all the
same, his conviction of the guilt of
Dreyfus remained unchanged. There
was a great sensation when M. De-
mango mentioned the opinion, expressed
by M. Barthou, that Gen. Billot had
been forewarned in regard to the for
gerry of Lieut.. Col Henry. The general
acknowledged that the Henry forgery
was among the factors arousing his
doubts. Gen. Billot said he was i'm
mensely surprised and deeply affected
by the revelation of the forgery and
superior officer could be guilty Of forg
cry"
M. 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 as
sumo responsibility for Dreyfus. He
had closely followed the inquiry Of the
court of cessation and still desired to
associate himself with the responsibility
of those, who, in 1894, protected the
country and the army against treason.
According to M. Cavaignae, even IN
his attempts to hide his crime, the ao-
cused had allowed words to escape him
which indlsputably established his
guilt. Everything, according to this
witness, condemned Dreyfus and he de-
clared, In spite of the prisoners denia1s,
it was established that he had been
everywhere where 1t was necessary to
procure the information In question. 1t
was established, the witness asserted,
that the prisoner had copied plans Of
the proposed concentration of the army.
Witnesses, he said, would testify in
support Of this assertion. After M.
Cavaignac's arraignment, Dreyfus be-
came nervous.
NJ Cavaignac next discussed the de-
mails of Dreyfus, and said the excuses
Of lapse of memory were inadmissible.
Dreyfus, he claimed, was aware of the
changes in the bridge corps belonging
to the artillery and also of the details
of concentration. Why, then, the Wit
edge? 1t was impossible, according to
M. Cavaignac, to credit that Esterhazy
was a traitor, even admitting that the
bordeIeau was written by him. Ester
hazy he insisted, could only have act
ed as the intermediary of an accom-
plice.
Col. Jouaust then asked: ''What do
you think Of the Henry forgery, In re-
lation to the facts now occupying our
attention."
9TH. Henry forgery" replied M. Cav
aignac, "as alleged, was in order to
secure a revision of the case by the
court of cessation, and was not even
alluded to. This forgery, therefore,
should remain outside the scope of the
questions submitted to this court-mar-
tial. This is my opinion
Col. Jouaust then told Dreyfus to
rise, and asked him If he had any re-
marks to make upon the evidence. The
prisoner in low voice replied: IT am
astounded that the man who produced
in the tribunal of the chamber the
Henry forgery can come here and base
his convictions of my culpability on
matters which the court of cessation
has already disposed Of"
Ger. Zurlinden, also a former minis
ter of war, was the next witness. He
began by pointing out the obligation
resting upon those directing espionage
to do everything possible to save those
serving them, when the latter were
discovered He then declared he still
regarded the bordereau as being deci-
sive proof of the guilt of Dreyfus and
said it would be impossible for those
who were prosecuting Dreyfus to be
acting from esprit du corps, and it
would be as unjust so to say, as to APP
prove "the odious act just committed
This inquiry into the honor Of the ar
my he continued, had nothing ITO do
with the affair.
Gen. Zurlinden then traversed the
old ground and declared that nothing,
not even Esterhazy's confessions, had
occurred to change his conviction.
In reply to further questions, Gen.
Zurlinden said that in order to know
the whole truth in regard to the border
eau thew must have the four notes
therein mentioned. They must be Sc
cured At this point Dreyfus interjected:
II associate myself with those words.
my colonel / also desire the truth. /
only ask for the truth" These state
ments caused excitement in court.
Gen. Chanoine next testified. He
briefly affirmed his belief in the culpa-
bility Of the prisoner. The appearance
Of M. Hanotaux, the former minister
Of foreign affairs, who followed him in
the witness box, reawakened the inter-
est OF the audience.
NJ. HanotauX declared he had MOTH
ing to add to his evidence giyen before
the court of cessation. He said no
never had cognjzance, either as a min
lister or as private individual. of anv
secret dossier.
He then related how he was made
acquainted with the Dreyfus affair Nv
Gen. MERCER and M. Dupuy. in the
presence Of M. Paleologue, giving the
observations he thought right to make
to Gen. MERCER regarding the Proofs
contained against Dreyfus and fine
minister OF wars reply, with his obiec-
Itions.
M. Hanotaux declared that when pen-
ming the notes he foresaw the dim
culties wh'sh speedily developed TJis
lcaf9. ne aGQeN, we've l1lly justified ana