davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Bonnet Rouge a
Hopeless MIDDLE

The Bonnet Rouge" revelation fol-
lows in point Of time. This affair IS
such a sad imbrOglio that as yet the
investigation, honest enough, has
thrown practically no light on II. From
the very outset we meet with a series
of contradictions, some of which will
perhaps never be explained. IL seems
doubtful whether BOlC was directly in
strumental IN the subverting Of the
Bonnet Rouge"
One fine day certain members OF the
editorial staff of the Bonnet Rouge
were caught on the Swiss frontier hav-
ing q suspicious check drawn on Ger
man money. A seizure Of papers IN
the Bonnet Rouge" Office was AZ once
authorized, and examination revealed
more than had been expected.
This seizure marks the beginning Of
the uncovering Of the German scheme
that was so operate through the
medium Of French newspapers. At frst
accused Of having in his possession
important documents relating to the
national defence, an accusation that
might be levelled at any important
newspaper editor in France, further
examination Of Almereyda offered
grounds for changing the charge
against hir TO treason. Arrested on
August 8, the prisoner proved very
taciturn, and the excited world outside
became evcn more excited when about
q week later he died in the Fresnes
prison.
1t was known that Almereyda wa.
respondent, and the ordinary means by
which "a prisoner may end his agony
were supposed to have been removed
from him. u is likely that he took
advantage Of a severe illness, and that
ut msment when ne deceived his doc
tors and guards bv an appearance of
complete coma he WAS able to strangle
himself with either a shoelace or q
shirt.
As a companion of the dramatic mys-
terry Of the Bonnet Rouge" there may
be told here the story of Sergeant
Psix-Seailles. In the examination Of
the various papers pltsked from the
Offices Of Almereyda there were found
certain documents concerning the army
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Large Amounts
Hidden in Desks

The huissier was st this time giving
the desks a thorough cleaning. and he
CHANGED upon Tunnels private cup
board. with the simple intention Of ar
ranging things. But the contents OF
this were astounding also, for there
lay safe and snug "a vast amount in
Swiss bank notes, the possession Of
which would have made any one very
happy. Tunnels content was thus
easily explained and perhaps also his
feint in not paying some Of his debts
as soon as contracted, so as 70 have
the opportunity Of pretending poverty.
Turmel was confronted with the
Swiss money found in his cupboard,
and his added explanations were so
piteously inept that the suspicious
against him easily found ground; IT
is not illegal 70 have foreign bank
notes in ones possession, Out their
presence must be explained If eNpiana-
tion is asked, and all Tunnel could do
was 10 jabber something about having
business in Switzerland. His bcwi!der-
ment seemed to establish fair pre-
sumption Of some kind Of guilt.
After investigation in Switzerland
the Deputy was arrested on October Z
and sent TO the Prison de la Sante,
from which he was called only TO submit
20 questioning from the JUICE dinstruc-
ton who was TO formulate the charge
against him. He proved a hard prls-
oner. refusing 70 answer questions or
TO give information. His friends and
relatives were examined. His wife de-
MED Internationally that she had had
anything 20 do with her husbands
business affairs. As the case devel-
oped during the month Of October it
transpired that Tunnel had made sew
eral visits to Switzerland since the be-
ginning OF the war and had brought
back with him at least 100000 francs
in Swiss money. The Banque Jordan
in Paris had changed notes for a wom-
an who had come fairly frequently.
The bank teller easily recognized Nine.
Turmel as the woman, but she CON
tinued stoutly 70 deny that she had
mixed in any way with her husbands
affairs. She was committed TO the
Prison 81. Lazare on October 10.
The Tunnel incident serves merely
as an iilr ration Of the purely bust
ness scandals. There are many others.
But il is more important for US TO
consider the systematic underhand
buying Of the French press.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
All France Shaken in Crapple With Treason
Bolo Pacha's Web Only Part of Vast
Plot-Attempt Made to Buy Up the
Press by Observation-Disclosures Con-
tinue to Supply Foe

Concerning tho special undsrstand-
inps which might be the condition
or the consequence Of this peace
am forced % keep the completest re
serve. I have the impression that
they would consist in the grant 70
France Of part Of Belgium, and .
perhaps also in certain advantages 10
be given 90 Alsace-Lorraine-ad-
vantagcs which would be likely 20
soften the wounds ard regrets SUI
fered by France.
In return Germany and Austria
would probably demand the future
friendship Of France, her help in the
common arrangement Of information
al difficulties arising in the future
and n free hand TO permit them 70
finish the present war 70 the pest o.
their interests, II the other being
erent powers desire 10 continue the
struggle. ,u
Il must be clearly understood that
these conditions do not figure yet IN
auv protocol and do not come TO me
from official condolences. The par
ticular conversations which nave
suggested them 70 me will not per
NIT me 20 lend 20 these conditions
as I have stated them any other au-
fboritv except that which may be
granted 70 my own observations.
add that If | reveal certain things
that have been told me, | have not
been commissioned 20 do so, and
that in all this / relate and 90 not
judge.
relate also, and leave judgment to
the reader. .,
We have seen newspaper men. ed
tors and writer's, Deputies, chief jus
tice and a Senator implicated in the
scandals we have already studied. a
stem further-and We find ourselves IN
the Cabinet. The accusation agalns,
NJ. Nalvy, former Minister OF Interior
is really apart az case from the
journalistic scandals. But IL has de-
veloped as a consequence Of the bon
net Rouge" mystery.
On October 3, 1917, France was
startled by one OF the most dramatic
episodes that have ever stirred a public
already so satiated with wraeking
events. On that day there appeared
in the Chamber OF Deputies the slight
form and emaciated face Of NJ. Aalyy.
whose resignation as Minister OF the
Interior had practically been forced
three weeks before.
After asking for order. he told IN
broken voice how the President OF the
Republic had just received letter from
Leon Daudet, editor OF the royalist
paper "I'Action FRANCHISE" in which
the writer accused the former minister
Of treason. The points in the accuse.
ton were two. both growing out o,
Nalvy's relationship with Almereyda-
first, that NAVY had delivered 70 Ger
nj. n agents plans Of the attack last
spring at Chemin-des-Dames, and. see
ond. that he had through various char
nels fomented edition in the French
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

r,>uF story OF France during tho
las. thrve snd half years Is
Il perfectly told in 8 short para
.-srh vSieh Anstole France, the
A,s8emic.ar, wrote under some angelic
.s,piraton moro than thirteen years
40 n big cynical history Of the Pen
egips he speaks Of their newly found
Cd republic:
Nevertheless, the republic had
ARTISANS and defenders. II the
sountry was unable to believe in the
t-ustvorthiness OF those who sd-
ministercd her government she
could still count on the devotion Of
The laborcrs, whose poverty had not
been aleviated, but who surGed out
in crowds from their qusrries and
warehouses in order TO defend her;
Who flcd past for a long time, wan,
dark, sinister. For their country
they were willing 20 give their lives,
since she had given them hope"
The Pcuguins are the French, even
IL there IS no external resemblance.
The three and a half years Of terrible
suffering that the land OF France has
lived, these long buffets Of terrific
world storm, have proved ono thing
shout her and quite another about
Germany. The two countries have, so
10 speak, reduced TO a tombstone their
essential different traits, and II we
nav say OF one that II Is the stability
q her rulers that charecterizes her
var. We may say Of the other that it
the stability Of her people that
makes hers.
While France as a nation OF work
nen and Of great numbers Of middle
lass families, all devoted 20 the ideals
4 their country, has risen in this war
o the most glorious heights TO which
can be given any nation to rise,
he has shown on tho other hand
fundamental weakness Of government,
lack OF the proper true men st her
lelm 70 guide her destinies TO the vic
.orious haven. While the strength OF
Germany IS in her leaders and the in
.uleated faculty Of obedience, the
strength Of France is in her people
and .heir clear-minded devotion 70
principles. Her leaders have shown
themselves weak and some Of them IN
dependable and untrustworthy.
Apparently democracy has TO be
bought at the price OF efficiency and
sound leadership.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
| |

NNE aspect Of relationship with the
I enemy, mentioned above, is the
purely commercial one. where
greed prompts man TO run the
obvious risks Of trading through the
medium Of some neutral country. The
most conspicuous case In kind Is that
Of Tunnel, 8 member Of the Chambre
des Deputies, the French House Of Rep
resentatives. Tunnels affair involves
large sums Of money and has every
aspect Of a typical case where insen-
safe greed drives n man TO disregard
the laws Of decency. Il must be re.
called here that these men are not
traitors in any legal sense, though all
sincere and upright people hold them
beneath contempt.
Tunnel, the Deputy Of LaudGac, in
the C0tes-du-N was visiting one
day at the beginning Of September =
friend TO whom be owed a considerable
sum. When no left he accidentally
dropped without knowing IL his fat
wallet. The friend found Il later, snC
upon examining its contents noted that
IL contained a good deal more money
than Tunnel was presumed to possess
lie promptly took the sum that Turmel
owed him, and sent the rema inder
twenty-five bank notes of 1000 francs
each, to the Chambre des Deputies tc
be given TO their owner. The mes
senger was unable TO find Turmel, ant
handed his envelope 10 the attendant
or huissier, who placed it in the vo
luminous mail destined for the VariOu,
Deputies. There It got lost and was
opened by mistake. Its unsuspecteC
contents caused astorishmcrt.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Deputy Tunnel, accused of trading
with the enemy.

Of the Orient under General Sarrail.
These papers were letters by n Captain
Matthew, attached to the general staff
of Sarrail, and they we're addressed to
Sergeant Paix-Seailles in Paris. The
latter had handed them on to Alme-
reyda.
In these letters, written in 1916,
Captain Matthew protested against the
French publicists who were then con-
Quoting a campaign for a more ener-
getic offensive in the Orient. The
writer described in unequivocal terms
the extremely destitute condition OF
Sarrail's men, sans guns, sans mu-
nitions, almost sans food. He asked
-Seailles. who had some acqualn-
tanceship among the Cabinet ministers,
more esDecially with Painleve, to make
known these conditions to the govern
ment, and if necessary TO make them
public.
Paix-Seailes was himself director Of
a newspaper known as the Courier
European" but he exerted his in
iuence with other editors, among
them Daudet and Herve, to publish "a
few articles on conditions in the ORR
emit. His fault lies in the fact that he
handed on his important letters TO
Almereyda, though in his defence he
makes it clear that the editor OF the
Bonnet Rouge" was at this time an
accredited journalist with many friends
in the Chambre and had as late as
May. 1917, obtained a judgment for
SANDER against a newspaper that had
attacked him.
Paix-Seailles had determined upon a
general campaign Of publicity because,
he says. he wanted for the distressed
army Of the Orient the attention it
needed from home. The politicians
and statesmen 20 whom Paix-Seailles
presented the case were more or less
aware of the dire conditions obtaining
in the Sarrail army, but were more
interested, alas! in internal questions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Ii |

4 THE mere mention Of the scan
n dals in the French press there
j. one name that comes, in
stantly TO the mind, name that has
come TO stand for the most daring
comprehensive attempt TO take posses
SION Of the leading editorial pages Of
France and gradually to subvert their
honesty and straightforwsrdness:
Bolo has come 10 outshine all the
others, though in reality he Is but one
of many who have dared 10 treat with
the enemy. His affair is in reality a
nucleus which has dragged around It a
mass Of threatening disclosures. In
general, the other cases Of subyersion
Of the press can be connected with
Bolo, though ell, Of course, depend on
the German agents in Switzerland,
Spain or the United States before IT
entered the war. The system Of Ger
man propaganda is far beyond any
thing tho nations allied against It can
imagine. 1t may DO said to have
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Ex-Premier Caillaux, to be tried for
treason.

This foretaste Of the profteering
possibilities of the war made him
think up the advantages of a bank
by which he could finance similar
enterprises. Hence the famous Catholic
bank adventure. The idea was to create
Franeo-ltalo-H ispano organization
which would receive the favor of the
Church and thus attract a tremendous
Catholic capital. Monseigneur Bolo
was great help in this profitable
scheme, and besides, by this time,
Bolo had placed well behind him the
days Of Indulgence. He was an intl-
mate of VI. Monner and had even been
trusted with minor missions by the
President Of the French Republic
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
France Wallows
In Orgy Of Scandal

It IS said that France is always avid
Tor scandals. Perhaps she is, when
there is nothing else 10 think Of. Just
now there is the war, and that claims
body and soul. Nevertheless, the French
these past months have wsllowed in a
perfect orgy OF government scandal.
Here on this side we have heard Of
Bolo and his newspaper enterprises.
We have talked with some astonish-
ment about his ventures. We have
discussed the sources Of his money
and the suspicious motives that led
him 20 seek q vast control Of opin-
ion in his OWN land.
Very few here have realized, however,
that Bolo's adventure Is only a portion,
though a huge one, Of q vast German
propaganda scheme in France. the rev.
,lstion Of which at the present time
has involved, not a host Of penniless
sdvcnturers and shady characters, but
instead some Of the highest officials
and the most trusted men in France.
The last two months have seen accuse
tons o. treason brought against a
horde Of minor editors. but the net OF
suspicion has entangled a chief justice
o. the land, a Cabinet minister, a SEN
ator and a Deputy. Can the faith Of
the people of France in their govern
ment Withstand the rude shocks il has
received from the dastardly enterprises
Of some Of its leaders? Clemenceau,
the Lion, must roar and rip in order
TO restore the faith OF a nation OF SOL
dicrs
Recently In our own land we have
seen published a long blacklist Of Ger
man firms in South America. We know
that we have among US many who are
drawn by all sorts of ties 20 the lands
whose enemies VIC are. We feel that
about US there are spies, there are men
who cannot be trusted. We know that
some newspapers Of a seditious char
icter have been suppressed, but that
there are others whose words are less
openly rebellious and therefore more
insidious There has been n good deal
Of agitation concerning the attitude
that honest and loya. citizensSsre TO
maintain ia face of disloyal and luke
warm pacihsts, who absent themselves,
Ike La Toilette, from Congress az the
moment when our courage burns bright,
7Gcifsts who in their own secretiye
way make war on their fellow men.
Against all these vitiatiug and dan
serous influences that burrow under
ground and suddenly assume a proper
ion unexpected when their presence
all help divide the land and break its
viii, sgainst the secret conclayos,
igainst these retiring and reticent
'orces whose mystery Il their main
strength, those Of US who believe In our
lation's right must fight. We must
ight these evil powers as We would the
'nemy.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

TITS the duty Of Americans who read
! or know of these events in our
sister republic 20 take full rasss-
ure Of the situation. We must rec
ognize how the Shiny intrigue Of Ger
many, as concentrating as her gas
shells, is a terrible weapon in her
hands. We have seen how In France IL
has permeated business life; IL has
poisoned tho minds Of leaders OF
thought; IL has reached the lswmAk-
ing body by its offer Of g!ittering re-
ward. Germany is not chary OF money
10 buy souls. She has bought men who
had the confidence of nations masses.
The effect OF these disclosures upon
the minds Of the mon and women In
France is terrible, fer they have lest
the material comfort arising from ths
close sense Of union in heroic ma
ton. The people have given all they
had, while men higher up were making
their sacrifice vain. The irony of the
situation holds the germ OF revolution
among the people and disintegration
among the armies. But France,
united nation IN close accord. rises
above the Shiny net at her feet that
Germany has drawn, and her cry Of war
against the menace Is all the more
loud and clear.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

An accusation OF this kind should be
proved in forty-eight minutes. But the
kind Painleve called upon Daudet 10
furnish evidence Of his charges and
granted him forty-eight hours. The
much oyerworked Captain Bouchsrden
was then intrusted with the task OF
receiving Dapdet's deposition. IL took
the aceuser most OF a week TO get in
all he had 70 say. In the meantime
the Painleve Cabinet sat on the case,
with the Minister of War as presi-
dent, and indicated VI. Malyy com
pletely. IL was Painieve's method never
10 be cruel, and TO conciliate first and
always. The Socialist and Radical
groups, all those opposed TO CatholI-
cism and Royalism as forces IN the gov
eminent, united enthusiastically about
Malvy and called loudly for justice
against the slanderer.
"I.e PAYS" on October 10. almost two
weeks after the dramatic episode In
the Chambre des Deputies, shouts edi-
torially of Daudet: "As for that evil
and half-crazed idiot, who, in the guise
Of patriot and prophet. dared 20 dis
honor decency and good faith, get that
man by the collar! His papers, alas,
are probably far by this time. Moral,
if there is one in all this: We are at
war and we want a government. but
we cannot succeed with handful OF
clay. no matter how good its quality"
Painleye was lettering, and We know
already how, on the scandal question,
his soft utterances and weak conduct
brought about his fall from power.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

DY OCTOBER 20. 1917. the main
ID schemes Of Bolo and his fellow
traitors were somewhat barred.
ne certain proofs were still lacking.
was on that day that Henri Lave
IAN speaking in "LIlIustration," said /:
Thank heaven, all these stories
20 not make history. Before bury
ing them let US not fear TO bare
them, 70 expose them one after the
SS.her az the morRue Of public in
eignation and general contempt
3. Nowadays we have stopped
counting the blunders in psychoi-
ey made by the Germans. They
s1lec % buy US with money. Money,
money, METAL-they do everything
u hTuDDI However. the cor
ap'or hardly ever corrupts any ono
eet The corrupt"
\ lev weeks later when astounding
eseiAtlons had been made and others
vre SUI pending "La Paix" commented
'a'sorIaily November o.:
hsat . mix-up at the present
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

The General Syndicate Of the Paris
press was rather shocked through all
these scandals at the high-handed
methods which the government was
using in breaking into Offices and alb
stracting from the files letters and
documents, many purely personal. The
seizure of papers in Daudets Offices
finally goaded all newspaper men 10
some sort Of unified action, and The
Syndicate objected as follows:
Eve protest cnergetically against
arbitrary measures, sudden arrests,
seizure of personal papers and pri-
vate correspondence. We renew our
former protests against the abuse a.
power By the censorship, which, ~
forbidding the reproduction in
France OF official documents pub
lished in the countries OF our allies,
keeps our public opinion in igno-
rance Of the essential facts OF the
war, and leaves il thus without In
formation or guidance
This brings US to the supreme sean
dal concerning the press--the unjust
and stupid surveillance of the paths OF
public opinion by an autocratic dumb
censorship. The blunders and insults
that II has tyrannically heaped on the
press are legion. But, then, this Is net
a matter of German intrigue, and should
be told elsewhere.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Amazing Story of How German Gold
Has Corrupted Trusted Leaders Fully
Told for First Time-Cabinet and
Judiciary Touched
By Harry Kurz

moment and what objectionable haz-
mess in the procedure of these in
yestigations! While at the Prison de
le Sante Bolo has all the leisure
possible 20 build up his health; while
Lenoir and Dcsouches, behind similar
bolts, by their lawsuits and their
longing Tor company hasten the
moment when into the gliStening
cobwebs other flies will come 20 join
them; while Turmel has the oppor-
tunity 20 reflect over the advantages
and disadvantages Of his little COM
merce with the enemy-thosc who
are witnesses to-day tomorrow be-
come the accused. And then. there
Is the other crowd-faces sombre or
smiling, according TO whether an
easy conscience lights them MP or
dread disfgures them In this crowd
there is no joking. for here the &C
ousation is not trading, but conniv-
ance, with. the enemy. Here we
meet Landau, Goldsky, Marion, Du-
val, over whom hovers the bleeding
shadow % Almereyda.'
By this time the serious nature OF
the extent and scope of the German
propaganda schemes had become some
what known. and true men went about
with heavy hearts and with a shaken
faith. But the reaction was bound
TO set in, and. In this case, the re-
action brought Clemenceau into power.
There was born a strong resolve 70
know the truth about the men who
had professed loyalty, but who appar-
entity in their hearts were harborlng
a black sin. It was not only the de
Of true men to learn all,
but also the eternally young spirit
of France that reasserted itself and
proclaimed that during the rebirth Of
The nation its house would be cleaned
and swept. The chat is flying even
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30
Details OF
Bolo' s Trial

IL seems useless here to go into great
earthed at the Bolo procedure. A few
of the salient disclosures are however
of interest TO Us. The trial has indi-
Gated that theEe can be no doubt Of the
connection between Bolo and Anne
reyda. 1t has also shown that Nine.
Bolo, formerly z widow by the name
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

The large picture shows the Paris
Court of Appeals, where Justice
Andre is being sworn in for the
trial Of Bolo Pacha. Andre sue
ceeds Fernand Monnier, convicted
and degraded for connection with
Bolo. The upper portrait is that
of Bolo Pacha, the lower that Of
Monnier.