The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-03
THE OLD FIRES FANNID
DREYFus ANIMosITIEs ARE RE-
 VIVED.
Meeting of Nationalists Demon strates the Bitterness Caused by
 the Governments Attitude
 Forward Revision of Case.

Paris. Dec. 2.-The Dreyfus commission assembled today at the Department of Justice. The six members of the com mission sat around a table upon which were piled the papers in the various cases under consideration.
 While M. Durand the president, says the commission did not take up the Drey- fus case today. no doubt exists that indi- vidually attention Is being given to 1t as all the documents have been transmitted to M. Durand. It Is not expected that oral testimony will be heald.
 A meeting of prominent Nationallsts to- day demonstrated that they are bitterly antagonistic to the action taken by the government. Former War Minister Caviasnac accused the government of disturbing the peace of the country by reviving an affair which had been made an instrument for civil discord and as- serted that 1t was useless to interpeliate the government on the subject, because the ministry was too strong. General Mercier. a former war minis er,- who is regarded as the chief accuser of D. eyfus. has issued from comparative retirement from public life, as Senator from the Loire Inferieure. and has affirmed that everything he had read in the govei nment newspapers regarding Dreyfus was un- true.
 Ho uttt6F tOu0 ok ttkS AN&tVhdaStc th an indication of how the actual taking up of the case to-day has revived all the old animosities and bite nes of the last ten years. Intense feelir h shown through out governmental, political and army circles. The universal theme nf the newspap pers, clubs and society Is that the revival of the case will bring out again prominently the leading actors in the Dreyfus degradation.
 -A t -Aa a,. cluding Zola and Colonel Henry, dead. General Mercier has ceased to exercise influence in the war administration and never speaks in the Senate. Geenral De Boisdeffre.t formerly chief of the French staff, has practically been retired. as he is on waiting orders and has no active command. Colonel Du Paty de Clam has retired. but he continues to be an active figure. Major Count Esterhazy has be- come pitiful parsonage. He has left the army. was divo ced in 1899 and lives in London. General Zurlinden, former Military Governor of Paris. has retired.
 Most of the officers favorable to Drey- fua have been disgraced In one way or another. Colonel Plcquart has become a Parisian newspaper man. Joseph Rein ach. leader of the campaign for the re- vision of Deryfus's trial, is no longer Q member of the Chamber of Deputies. but continues to conduct literary campaign for Dreyfus's full restoration to the army. NJ. Reinach came out today with a strong interview in behalf of his friend. M. Brisson, who first demanded a revision. is now a member of the Chamber of Deputies. M. Loew, president of the criminal chamber of the court of cassa- ton, has retired from the judiciary and directs the affairs of the Legion of Honor. -'
 Although there is no present purpose of recalling the witness. the testimony which these persons will give in case the court requires their presence is occupying considerable attention.