The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-17
RIVALS DREYFUS CASE
SALE OF FRENCH SECRETS BY THE
 WHOLE SALE.
London Correspondent of the Paris Matin Approached By Man Who Has Drawings of French For
 tiacations at T0nlOn.

Paris, May 16.-The Mathis London correspondent, having obtained nearly a hundred authentic plans of the fortifica- tions at Toplon. besides numefous other compromising documents, thai paper this morning begins the puhlis Son of the history of a treason affair which seems likely to exceed in importance the affair of which Captain Dreyfus was charged.
 On April 1 the correspondent receiv- ed letter written in queer semi French semi Italian jargon. and signed "Fragola, Petro." telling him that the writer, who was employed at a hotel, had been act ing as guide to two persons who had come to London to sell a large parcel of documents of the highest importance concerning French naval defenses. The letter stated the men had gone to Brus- sells, leaving the writer penniless. He, therefore. wanted to negotiate for the transfer of certain documents of the highest importance concerning French naval defense but was unwilling to treat direct with the French Government, pre- ferring to deal with the Matin or some other newspaper.
 The correspondent thought the letter was probably a beginning trick, but re- piled, addressing his answer to the post
 
 appointment. which Fragola duly kept.
 The mans desperate state of hunger evidenced his sincerity. Fragola told the following story:
 He was formerly, he said. employed at the war ministry in Rome, but became compromised in a case of espionage and was sentenced to six months imprison- ment. Subsequently he came to London. living from hand to mouth. Secondly. he had acted as guide and secretary to two men of Italian origin, with one of whom-a naturalized French citizen-he had formerly been acquainted at the war ministry in Rome. Both of these men, Fragola said, worked for foreign govern ments and had some time sold important secrets to Germany at high prices. The Italians name was Cesare Golio and that of the naturalized Frenehman, Jeremie Mesqu1. The latter had long been a contractor on public work at Tou- lon. They had gone to Brussels five days ago. leaving him entirely without means of living. He found after their departure that Golio had left documents behind him and these he wanted to sell.
 "Fragola thereupon produced S5 plans of the Toulon forts, some of them the French originals and others accurate copies. made at the Italian war ministry. He also had in his possession a list of plans of Cherbourg, Brest and Toulon, with typewriter instructions alleged by Fragola to have emanated from the Ger man staff. concerning the marking of batteries of artillery There was also a letter appointing a rendezvous at the Thuringer Hof, Berlin, for November l3. signed x To this was attached a card inscribed Felix Fredrich Scholtz "
 ''Tho Mathis correspondent gave Fro- eoIa A few shilings and persuaded him to leave the documents In its hands in order that an examination of them might he made. The next morning he took them f, inc French embassy where the naval attache declared them to be absolutely genuine.
 tomorrow.