The Northern Guardian. — 1898-10-04 (Hartlepool, Cleveland, England)

THE FORGED DOCUMENTS.  HIGH PERSONAGES IMPLICATED.  [REVIER'EI TELSGOAMS.]  Paris, Monday.  The "Fronde' states that just before going to ivess it was informed that a warrant was issued on Saturday for the arrest of Major EstMiazy, who is still in London. It publishei. the report, however, with the strictest reserve.  TLoee papers which are hostile to revision conoratulate themselves on yesterday's demonstrations, by which they say the majority protested against the insulters of the army. The "Petit Journal" and the "Gaulois" give the credit for this to M. Paul Derouleae and the "Ligue des Patriotes." The more moderate anti-revision Pt-Pers, however, state that an agitation like this does not assist that question, and they exhort the people to remain calm.  The revisionist journals observe that yesterday the coalition of clericalism and reaction was evident, and they attack the Government in strong terms for having arrested the organisers of the revisionist meeting. The liappel" throws all the responsibility on M. Deroulede and his friends„ whO, by their interference, forced the Government ta take action, in order to avoid more serious troubles.  Paris, Monday. M. Strong, the Paris correspondent of the "Ob. server," has been interviewed by a representative of the "Matin," on the subject of the revelations made to him by Major Esrerhazy. He is quoted as having spoken as follows: - • "Major Esterhazy reminded me that the reproductions ot the bozde:eau in the newspapers were not made from the original document, owing to the extreme thinness of the paper on which it was written, the letters from each side showing through on the other and producing a confusion of strokes and loops, which rendered it impossible to trace it properly. The consequence was that in the copy of the document there were two or three words which were not in Esterhazy's handwriting at all. Whenever the bordereau was submitted in evidence before the courts it was always this imperfectly traced copy which was produced, and it was thus that Esterhasy, when shown the document (the tracing) at the court-martial before which he first appeared, was able to declare with perfect truth that he was not its author. Apart from the authorship of the bordereau, M. Esterhazy made another statement of the greatest importance. While admitting that he had forged certain documents, there were other persons, he said, occupying the highest positions, who Lad made use ox them. It is evident that his statements on this subject can only be reproduced under the strictest reserve. According to him, however, the conclusion arrived at by M. Bertulus, the examining magistrate, regarding the Speranza and Blanche telegrams was perfectly correct. The two telegrams were forged on the direct order of Colonel du Paty de Clam, acting on behalf of the general staff, whose object was to have an instrument in their hands which could be used against Colonel Picquart, if necessary, to cast diseredit upon him. Ths order to seize the correepOudence addressed to Colonel Picquart was sent t tte Prefecture of Police by the General Staff en November 9th. On the 10th the forgeries were committed, and on the 11th the originals of the two telegrams'Were seized at the post office." . .  Major niterhazy attacled mull importance .this part of his staterr.mitm. _  "The order to forge these documents," he said, "could never have been given without the approval of a very high military authority, end the cact of htving in some measure countersigned this order constitutes in French law the offence 'Eniplo.:rnent of forged document? (six). V. Bertuius had not th.r least doubt as to the real author of these forgeries, and he alone was in the right. M. Bertulus decided that 7 should be prosecuted. uppaled to the Chamber of Indictments, and in order to saw. Colonel Du Paty de Clam from being charged as an accomplice ministerial influence was brought to bear, and the Chamber declared M. Bertulus incompetent to take action as regarded that officer, and I myself was set at liberty, without being afforded any opportunity of giving explorations or making revelations." Major Esterhazy told me that fram the outset of the affair the general staff had given him secret in. formatiOn to enable him to proteet himself, and before his trial he every day received a note from Colonel De Patv de Clam, stating on what subjects the various witnesses would be examined, and giving him instruAions as to the replies he himself should give on those points. He said that the circumstances attending his expulsion from the army determined him to drag others down in his own fall. He would not, like Colonel Henry, commit suicide, but would sell his life and his reputation dearly. "For years," Esterhazy said, "I was the general staff's right hand man, and no one kiwws the cecrets of the Dreyfus affair as well as I It was with those words, 'I am the general staff's right hand man,' that I began my report to the judges of the last covrt of inquiry., and I then said enough to make my judges very much disposed to acquit me; but ministerial pressure proved too strong." Sush are the general lines of the revelations which Major Esterhazy originally proposed to me to make through my newspapers.