Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-06-05
FRANCE FEARS
MILITARY PLOT
Belief Expressed that Shooting
May be Outcome of ROyalist
Plan.
PARIS AROUSED BY AFFAIR

Paris, June 5.--All Paris is asking it
Dreyfus in the Pantheon by Louis An
thehne Gregori, a military journalist,
means Royalist plot against the re-
public. In Republican quarters
the idea is scoffed at the loyalty of
the masses to the present form of gov
ernment being taken for granted, but
many observers declare that the shots
fired at Major Dreyfus mark the res
toration to activity of the supporters
of the Duke of Orleans.
The impressive ceremonies of the
canonization of Emile Zola and the
reinterment Of his ashes had just con-
cluded In the Pantheon before a gath
ering Of distinguished men and Presi-
dent Fallieres, followed by his suit,
had stepped outside the rotunda to the
portico to review the troops when two
pistol shots in rapid succession sound
ed sharply in the temple of the coun-
try's honored dead.
Rumors of Royalst Plots.
All day the city had been uneasy and
its atmosphere charged with threats OF
a volcanic political outburst. Crowds
had been marching and singing In the
streets, and there were rumors of
Royalist and other plots with the ZoIa
canonization as the match to start the
fame of revolution.
Instantly when the shots were heard
the fear that the president had been
assassinated gripped the hearts of all,
and the startled men In the Pantheon
all asked the same question, "Is it the
presidentT'
Major Alfred Dreyfus, the man for
whom ZoIa had risked his life, liberty
and fortune in the expose of the army
plot to disgrace him, dramatically
raised above his head his right arm,
from which the blood was freely flow
ing, some of the drops falling on his
pale face as he held his arm in such a
position that all could see it.
joy at Fallieres' Safety.
1T Is Dreyfus," was the answer read
and spoken by those who looked OH,
and it was accepted with measure of
relief that the head of the government
had not fallen by an assassin's bullet.
The motive Of the would be assassin
is the cause of much mystifcation, for
Gregori, instead of being an ordinary
fanatic, such as is carried away by the
political passions OF the moment, is
man Of mature age, having been born
n 1874, and was highly esteemed in
t circle where he was known. Al
ough born Of italian parents, he has
been an ardent Frenchman for years
and has written authoritatively on mil
itary subjects, enjoying close relations
with many high French officers. He
was one of the correspondents who fol-
lowed the big French and German ma
neuvers for the purpose of securing
data for technical papers.
His friends are at loss to under
stand what induced him to commit
such a fooIhardy act, and many are
disposed to question his statement that
he simply shot as an individual in pro-
test against the participation of the
army In the ceremonies attending the
placing of the ashes of Zola in the
Pantheon.
Tool of RoyaIist PIotters7
Some do not hesitate to express the
opinion that he may have been the
tool Of a little clan of Royalists who
under the name of IlAction Franchise
have never ceased to insist that the
court Of cessation Illegally prevented
an appeal in the Dreyfus case nor
abandoned hope Of seeing revision
favorable to the contentious Of the Ma
tionalists