The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-07
DREYFUS SCANDAL REVIVED.
W. CAVAIGNAC, FORMER MINISTER
or WAR, OPENLY ACCUSED.
Sensational Charges Made by NJ. Jaures
In Chamber Of Deputies-Forgery and
the suppression Of an Important
Document Alleged ationaiists Silent.
Special Cable Despatch TO Tue SUN.


specfa. Cable Despatch to the SUN.
PARIS. April On. Jaures, a Socialist
Deputy, to-day launched his promised
revelations OF the Dreyfus case in the
Chamber of Deputies. They prove to be
more sensational and more important than
was anticipated, and reawakened much OF
the angry excitement that marked the
slttings Of Parliament when -rAhaire" was
tearing France to pieces.
NJ. Jaures undertook TO show that docu-
ment OF the most serious importance. which
might have procured a decisive investiga-
ton Of the case. was systematically sup
pressed; that the spurious letter attributed
10 Emperor William was. like Col. Henry q
forgery, done at the Ministry OF War. and
that high officials were responsible for 1t,
and that this fraudulent document was
afterwsrd slipped into the Ministerial
dossiers in a manner that enabled 1t to be
produced as evidence without mourning the
risk Of public scrutiny.
NJ. Jauress speech was long. and though
it was eloquent and powerful it need not
be followed in detail It's kernel was the
exposition of letter purporting to have
been written by Gen. de Pellieux in
August, 1898, the day Col. Henry COM
mitted suicide, to NJ. Cavaignac, who was
the Minister Of War. asking permission to
resign because he realized that he was the
du- - Of those without honor and unable
to longer rely on the confidence of my
subordinates and unable to trust my
superiors, who have made me work upon
forgeries.
The reading OF this letter aroused great
sensation, in the midst of which NJ. Brisson
rose white and agitsted. He was hardly
able to control his voice as he said: As
President Of the Council at that time,
declare that ] had no knowledge Of the
letter"
This caused an outburst from members
Of the Left, all Of whom turned menanc-
ingly toward NJ. Cavaignac. The latter
protested against the insinuation thus made
against himself and said: 1t was not my
place to take notice Of Gen. de Pellieux' 3
letter"
NJ. Brisson continued impressively: Il
know that on Aug. IA NJ. Cavaignao was
convinced Of Col. Henrys first forgery
although he did not inform me of it until
Aug. 80. To-day learn for the first time
Of the existence Of Gen. de Pellieux's letter.
u
knowledge it was because he had in the
meantime come TO an arrangement with
Gen. Meroier.'
NJ Brisson proceeded to denounce NJ
Cavaignac as unworthy to be called a Re-
publican. He added that he deserved to
be impeached, and that he might bless
the fact that amnesty had been decrced.
The truthfilness Of NJ. Brisson's utterance
carried complete conviction to the men,
bers Of the Left, and q prolonged uproar
followed The Right, however. was not
convinced and tainted NJ. Brisson with
acting a comedy.
NJ. Cavsignac denied that he was aware
OF the first Henry forgery on Aug. IA. He
also denied having made an arrangement
with Gen. MERCER, and protested that the
whole matter was being exploited for q
political purpose.
NJ. Jaures having demanded that the
Government obtain from Gen. de Pellieux
an explanation OF the charges In his letter.
deferred the remainder Of his speech until
Tuesday. Thus far the Nationalists have
not attempted any kind Of defence against
NJ. Jaures's onslaughts. Their silence h
being assumed by their opponents as acqui-
essence In the accusations, but it Is equally
probable that their dumbness is tactical