Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-05

the ceremonies attending the canon
ization of Emile lola in the Pantheon
today, when the President of France,
the premier and a host of ministers of
state were taking their departure,
Louis Anthehne Gregori, military
writer Of note, drew a revolver and
fired two shots point blank at Major
Alfred Dreyfus, for whose liberty Zola
had fought and won.
Men distinguished in all walks of
life filled the Pantheon, and when the
shots rang out there was intense ex-
element in the fear that the President
had been assassinated, but even the
attempt on the life of Major Dreyfus
created a profound impression. Sol
diers speedily surrounded Gregori and
he was taken, bruised and bleeding,
with his clothes almost torn from his
back, to Jail.
The affair has created a tremendous
sensation in Paris and the motive of
the would-be assassin is the cause of
much ,mystification. for Gregori, in
stead of being an ordinary fanatic, is
a man of mature age. having been
born in 1914, and was highly esteemed
in the circles where he was known. AL
though born Of Italian parents, he has
been an ardent Frenchman for years
and has written authoritatively on mill
itary subjects. enjoying close relations
with many high French officers. He
was one of the correspondents who
followed the big French and German
maneuvcrs for the purpose of securing
data for technical papers
Some do mot hocitato RI oypraSo tho
opinion that he may have beeen the
tool of a little clan of Royalists who,
under the name Of L'Action Francois,
have never ceased to insist that the
court of cessation illegally prevented
an appeal in the Dreyfus case, nor
abandoned hope of seeing a revision of
the case.
Major Dreyfus was not seriously in
jured. A bullet entered his forearm
but did not injure the bone. At late
hour tonight, the official Statement,
was made that his condition was very
favorable and that no complications
were feared.
With regard to the reasons for Gre
gori's act, the opinion prevails in
Paris that there Is much truth in his
avOwal that he was driven to the
deed by the appeals to hatred with
which the anti-Semitic papers have
been filled since the government re-
solved to place the body of lola in the
Pantheon. The state of this feeling car
be gagged by an interview with Henr
Rochefert, editor of the Patriot. which
IS published tonight, and in which he
says:
hox rr1o Loot
for Dreyfus. 1t would have been his
first and only time under fire" Gre
gori made statement to the police
directly after his arrest, and during
a second interrogatory tonight he said
''I did not wish to kill Dreyfus. 1t is
true, I"aimed at him but I only want
ed to Craze him. My object was Il
protest against the participation o.
the army in the glorifcatiOn of Zola
and the rehabilitation of Dreyfus Ny
blow was aimed less at Dreyfus thar
at Dreyfusism."
Paris. June 4-The canoniZation to-
day of Emile lola at the Pantheon wa:
marred by a daStardly. though unsuc
cessful attempt upon the life Of Major
Alfred Dreyfus. Paris was thrown into
state of panic, for it was at frs
thought the President of the republic
had been shot down. The major wa:
wounded in the hand and his assailan
is a prisoner.
Emile lola, who died in September
1902, was 10 years ago twice condemned
to a years imprisonment for address
ing to Felix, Faure. then President o
10 80
| in which he laid bare the conspirac,
in the general army staff against Ma
jOr Dreyfus. Today he was canonizet
with national hOnors in the Pantheon
the French temple Of fame, with i'm
pressive ceremonies The proposal t.
give lola glorious burial, made first II
1906, aroused in France ell the
dormant animOsities that came ou
during the Dreyfus trials and there
fore the transfer of his ashes. al
though duly voted by the Chamber ant
the Senate had to be twice postponed
because of the state of public opinion
Disorder and riOting were expected to-
day and the authorities took ample
measures for the preservation Of peace
| The opposition to removing the re-
mains of lola to the Pantheon arises
| from the fact that he is thus honored
because of his famous letter, not be.
| cause of his literary fame. He was the
| first successful leader in the Dreyfus
war; he vanquished the general staff
Of the army and to give him glorious
burial in the national Pantheon at the
side Of Berthelot and Preside at Car
not, Victor Hugo, VOltaire and Rous
seau, to an accompaniment Of martha
music, while long lines of soldiers do
filed before his tomb, aroused the pas
sions Of large number of the French
people.
The attempt upon the life Of Majo
Dreyfus was made by Louis Anthehn'
Gregoris, a member Of the staff Of Ii
France Militaire, journal devoted t.
military progress and the military fu
| ture of the republic. Major Dreyfu
was present at the ceremonies to d.
final homage to the great leader Of hi