The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-03
Bitter Feeling Over Oreyfus Case
 Aroused in France
IS SOLE TOPIC OF THE DAY
Paris Discusses Probable Action of the Commission and Testimony That Former Witnesses May Be
 Called Upon to Give.

Paris, December 2.-The Dreyfus com mission assembled today at the depart ment of justice The six members of tine commission sat around table upon which were piled the papers in the vari- ous cases under consideration While M. Durand, the president, says the commits sion did not take up the Dreyfus case to- day, no doubt exists that individually, attention is being given to it, as to all the documents which have been trans mitted to M. Durand. It is not expected that oral testimony will be heard. A meeting of prominent nationalists today demonstrated that they are bitterly an- tagonstic to the action taken by the government.
 1 Former War Minister Cavignac accused the government of disturbing the peace of the country by reviving an affair which had been made an instrument for | civil discord, and asserted that it was useless to interpellate the government on the subject. because the ministry was too strong. General Mercer, the former war minister, who is regarded as he chief | accuser of Dreyfus, has issued from COinDdIdllNe retirement from DuDlc lire d5 senator from the Loire-In -Inferieure, and in the government newspapers regarding | Dreyfus was untrue.
 Old Animosities Revived.
 The bitter tone of the nationalists is an | indication of how the actual taking up of the case today has revived all the old animosties and bitterness of the last ten l fo cbo
 out governmental, political and army cir cles. The universal theme of the news ] papers, clubs and society is that the re- vival of the case will bring out again prominently the leading actors in the Dreyfus degradation.
 | Some of the most striking figures in- | cluding Zola and Colonel Henry, are dead
 Generai Mercier has ceased to exercise | Influence in the war administration and never speaks in the senate. General De | Boisdefere, formerly chief of the French staff. has practically been retired, as he | is on waiting orders and has no active | command. Colonel Dupaty 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 divorced in 1899, and lives 1 in London. General Zuerlinden, former military governor of Paris has retired.
 Dreyfus' Friends Disgraced.
 Most of the officers favorable to Drey- fus have been disgraced in one way or another. Colonel Picquart has become Parisian newspaper man. Joseph Rei- mach. leader of the campaign for the revision of Dreyfus trial, Is no longer a member of the chamber of deputies, but continues to conduct literary cam paign for Dreyfus' full restoration to the army. M Reinach came out today with a strong interview in behalf of his friend. 1 M. Brisson, who first demanded a revi- sion. is now member of the chamber of deputies. M Leow, president of the criminal chamber of the court of cassa- tion, has retired from the judiciary and directs the affairs of the legion of honor. Although there is no present purpose of recalling the witnesses. the testimony which those persons will give in case the court requires their presence is occupying considerable attention.