The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-16
ALFRED DREYFU0

Alfred Dreyrus was born on oc-
tober 8. 1859. in the town Of Muei-
.hausen, Alsace, Of jewish parents.
When the Germans annexed Alsace-
Lorraine after the Franco-PrussiAn'
war, Dreyfus withdrew from the con-
quered territory and went TO Paris.
Here the Unborn hatred OF the Teuton
Join the army and help fight the
Germans when the proper time came.
With this object ever uppermost in
his thoughts, Alfred Dreyfus entered
a military school In Paris. He stud
led hard and in q remarkably short
time became proficient in the rudi-
ments OF military knowledge. This.
however, was not all he WAS seeking.
He wanted to be a specialist in artil-
lery and he continued his studies I'M
til he became an expert. Then he
entered the army. Promotion came
rapidly, he was made captain and as
signed to the general stan on pro-
baton.
Soon after this he married, and in
the course Of time became the father
of two children and was looked upon
as wealthy and successful.
Even in those days the German
system of espionage was thorough.
Germany had built up a huge mill
tary machine. which she expected to
use to conquer the world. and she
had undermined France with her best
spies. Germany collected all the
knowledge on French military plans
that she could, but she overstepped
the mark.
Colonel schwarzhoppen. German
military attache in Paris. got care
less. One day he threw into his
waste basket a list of documents
which revealed the most valued mill
tary secrets of the French general
stafY
A charwoman employed by the
French intelligence department Of
the general stan. found the docu-
mentary evidence that there was a
Mercier, then minister of war. as
signed Colonel Du Patty to investi-
gate the circumstances and locate the
culprit.
Colonel Du Patty called Captain
Dreyfus to his office and dictated a
letter to him containing the words
composing the list found by the char
woman. The letter was written by
Dreyfus from the dictation and with
Bertillon. chief OF the bureau of
criminal Identification. Bertillion
swore the original list was in the
handwriting OF Captain Dreyfus and
a court martial waa ordered.
Why Dreyfus was chosen for the
test in the frst place was never clear
ly understood. The court martial was
held by a board of seven officers
picked by the general stan and be-
Dreyfus' chances were slim. He had
blundered into the secrets of the gen.
eral stan. which was rotten with
German corruption. and he was in
fair way to upset the careful prepa-
rations made for the betrayal OF
France.
Documents were forged by some Of
the officers which implicated Dreyfus
in the German Spy system. These let
victed Of treason in 1894 and SON
fenced to life Imprisonment on DEVILS
Island.
He was openly disSraced before the
Paris garrison. his sword broken be-
fore him and his uniform stripped Of
all insignia. He maintained his In
! nocence and went bravely off to
prison.
The power Of the press then came
nounced that the trial was a travesty
on Justice. English and American
papers took up the case and went
into details Trained investigators
were employed by the Dreyfus family.
and lola, the French novelist. openly
accused the general, star Of railroad
fing Drerfus In order to protect them
selves.
For the first time It became known
that the forged papers had been read
to the court martial board after they
had agreed to acquit Dreyfus Of the
charge. Dreyfus and his counsel had
both been ignorant of the existence
Of the infamous documents. and pub
lie opinion demanded that . new trial
be held. An Investigation was or