Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-29
HIGH HONOR FOR DREYFUS
France Does Justice to Man Who Was
Upjustly Punished,
DECORATED WHERE He WAS DEGRADED
Very Spot on which He Was
stripped of Uniform Chosen
TO BE Scene of His
Rehabilitation.

Twelve years ago the military barracks
at Paris was the scene of one of the most
dramatic incidents ever recorded in army
annals. Alfred Dreyfus, a captain of the
Twelfth artillery had been convicted Of
high treason and sentenced to be dis
missed from the army In disgrace The
ceremonial Of his degradation was made
most impressive. The regiment was drawn
up on parade and the captain brought be-
fore II, dressed in full uniform and wear
ing his sword. The colonel of the regiment
after the sentence OF degradation had been
read aloud to ALL snatched the captains
sword from its scabbard and broke it
across his knee. throwing the pieces at
the condemned mans feet. He then tore
the insignia OF the regiment from his uni
form, then the epaulettes, the buttons and
the lace. till nothing but the torn and
ragged cloth was left Then he slapped
the prisoner in the face and turned him
over TO the guard, a convict, a traitor
whose crime against the French army had
merted the utmost disgrace Dreyfus was
sent to Devils Island TO die
But justice was not dead in France, and
now, after one OF the most notable in
vestisations in all history. Dreyfus has
been restored to the army, with the rank
he would have attained II his service had
pccH oonNlnuoust ana mas DeHn ueCOTaIeQ as
a ohevalier in the Legion Of Honor HIS
reckless acousers have been overtaken by
the disgrace they prepared for an Innocent
man. Some NIL suicide graves and all have
their share OF obloquy.
Restoration 20 the Army.
II was fitting that Dreyfus' restoration
70 the army should be at the same place
whore he was degraded. The ceremony
took place on July q, and is thus fully
described I'm a cablegram from Paris:
In the presence OF a distinguished mill
tary assemblage Major Alfred Dreyfus.
wearing the full uniform OF his rank. to-
day received the cross of chevalier of the
Legion OF Honor. The ceremony. which
occurred In the court yard of the military
scnooI, was rendered doubly impressive by
being held on the very spot where the
buttons and gold lace were stripped of his
uniform and his sword broken twelve
years ago.
The courtyard. from which the public
was vigorously excluded, as the ceremony
was purely Official, was encircled by two
batteries OF the Thirteenth artillery, com
manded by Colonel large. who made the
recent discoveries at the War Office lead
ing TO the rehearing OF the case against
Dreyfus and his acquittal
General Gillian, accompanied by a num-
Der OF army officials entered the circle
with trumpets and drums sounding The
general attached the decoration to Major
Dreyfus' breast and felicitated him on his
well earned honor The major replied
brieny. expressing his acknowledgements
The ceremony was over I'm Ave minutes
tho general. Major Dreyfus and the arm!
ofhcials retiring amid the dipping OF flag,
and a roll of drums.
wife and son Look On.
The decoration OF the major assumed IN,
aspect OF a notable demonstration. Hi
brother oficers who were prominent fig
ures In various stages OF the controversy
were among the spectators, and OUTSIDE
the circle OF friends stood Nine. Dreyfui
and the little son OF Dreyfus; Brigade
General Pioquart, who shared In the court