The Washington times., 1919-09-28

PARIS, Sept Is.
bT-lHE most dramatic resurrection OF
the late war, and perhaps Of all
, history is that Of Colonel-better
known as Captain-Alfred Dreyfus
Twentyfour years ago this brave, un-
fortunate man was sentenced to a living
death as a traitor with every circumstances
Of shame and 'gnominy that France could
devise And pow. after all these years,
his country has appointed him an officer
Of her famous Legion OF Honor.
But the struggles that have occurred in
the interval make the drama even more
wonderful than anything that can be i'm
asined from the mere statement Of these
two essential facts. A reversal Of Cap
tain Dreyfuss original conviction was in
deed to5tained years ago after a remark
able campaign to prove his innocence, but
that did not mean his complete rehabili-
tation The whole power Of the upper
classes Of France had been employed to
secure his conviction and to uphold it.
The same power continued unalterabIy
against him, even after his innocence mad
been proved
After his reinstatement In the army at
that earlier period he found the majority
Of officers as wen as the leaders Of society
against him. and a military career became
hopeless.
The hunted, tragic man retired into OBJ
scurity, broken physically, but his amazing
moral force never deserted him.
When this war broke out his opportunity
came. The very existence OF France as a
nation was threatened and the services Of
every man Of military training we're de-
manded. Alfred Dreyfus, then q major OF
artillery on the retired list, was appointed
to the command Of one Of the smaller forts
surrounding Paris.
Then came the great irresistible rush Of
the Germans upon Paris The dnvaders
reached as far as the Bois de Boulogne, the
great park Of the metropolis, and the fate
Of France trembled in the balance. The
French Government was removed hurried
" to Bordeaux on the western coast
As most people know, the task Of cap
turing Paris was confded by the German
Star to General Won Kluck, commander Of
the right wing Of the German army. He
was to swing around vest Of Paris, ard, in
combination with the other German armies,
surround the capital
In a last desperate lifeand-death effort
to stem the German invasion, all the
French reserves that could be gathered in
Paris were rushed forward to attack the
army Of Won Kluck at fits junction with
The other German armies. Thousands Of the
srench soldiers, many Of them elderly men,
we're hurried there in taxicabs
This sudden onslaught nearly cut through
ron Kluck's army and be was compelled
10 swing eastward to escape destruction.
Paris was thus saved. In this desperate
igating Alfred Dreyfus, the physically
broken, long persecuted officer Of artillery,
acquitted himself heroieally. He distin-
yuished himself especially in the battle Of
he Ourcq, two days before the battle Of
he Marne.
The brilliant strategic move against Won
Aluck's army made possible the great
French victory Of the Marne, which ended
Sermsny's hope Of swift success, and thus
insured her final defeat
For his services in this critical struggle
Alfred Dreyfus was promoted lieUtenant-
.oloneL But France owes him much be
Iond his combatsnL services for it is
Understood that he first discovered the
iabolical espionage work that was being
arried on by Mata Hari, the notorious
butch dancer. It is one OF the most singu-
lr circumstances Of this great drama
hat a man once falsely accused as spy
hould have trapped one Of the most dan.
erOus Of real spies
Mata Hari was a fascinatinglv bsautif,d
roman, the daughter OF a Dutch rIaDter =
be East Indies and a native
avanese. woman. The girl mar
led Campbell Macleod, the dis
equitable scion Of a Scottish
oble family and separated from
I'm, Having learned 10 dance
J an Oriental temple she went
D Europe and made consider
bic success in Germany. There
be was hired as a spy BY the
erman General Stah.