THE DREYFUS CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 161, 10 July 1899, Page 3

THE DREYFUS CASE.

Captain Dreyfus, of Jewish birth, ■was arrested on October 15th, 1894, on a charge of having procured certain secret documents, relating to the national defence, for a foreign power. It was quite two weeks after his arrest that the French Cabinet learnt of the event, and then only through newspaper reports. The preliminary investigations were conducted, by Colonel Paty de Clam, with the greatest secrecy. It may be here remarked that Colonel Paty de Clam, who was in the bureau of the general staff, has been described as an eccentric person, who saw spies everywhere. THE TKIAL AND CONVTCTON. The trial began on November W, 1894, and notwithstanding the protest of M. Demange, the prisoner's counsel, it was conducted with closed doora. Dreyfug was convicted on December 23, 1894, the principal evidence against him being the famous bordereau, which in plain English means a memorandum, alleged to have been written by the accused and sent to the German military attache, Colonel Schwarzkoppen. THE MEMOBANDUM. This memorandum, as presented at the trial, consisted of a sheet of paper torn into pieces, which had been care* fully pasted together again. It waa supposed to have been stolen put of a waste paper basket at the office of the German military attache, by, his porter, and taken by the latter to the French War Office. The following is the text of the document;—" Without having heard whether you wish to see me, I am writing you with some interesting information. (1) A note on the hydraulic brake (120). (Manner it worked when experiments - were made.) (2) A note concerning the covering forces. (Several modifications will be made by the new plan.) (3) A note relative to th? alterations in the formation of the artillery corps. (4) A note relating to Madagascar. (5) The draft of a manual of artillery field practice, March 14, 1894. This last document is very difficult to get, and I can only have it at my disposal for a few days. The, Minister of War sent a certain number to the different regii ments, and they are responsible for i them, each officer having one being i obliged to return it directly after the I manoeuvres. If you would like to make I extracts of the part which interest? you, and will keep the manual at my disposal, I will call for it, unless you would like me to make a complete copy of it, and send the copy to you. I am just off to the manoeuvres." [The brake referred to is the hydraulic brake to the French cannon of 120.] THE SENTENCE. Dreyfus was sentenced to military degradation, transportation, and perpertual imprisonment. The degradation took place- at the military school in the Champ de Mars, on January 6, 1895, in the presence of a frenzied crowd, who shouted for the "traitor's" death. When his sword was broken, and his uniform stripped of its distinguishing ornaments, Dreyfus never wavered, but declared loudly, "I am innocent; Vive la France!'* AGITATING FOS A EEVISION. \ Soon after Dreyfus's conviction .an agitation was set on foot for a revision of hiß sentence. This agitation was carried on spasmodically until' November, 1897, when, in consequence of debates in the Chamber.of Deputies and articles in the newspapers, it received a fresh impetus. The reasons put forward in support of a revision were (1) That the bordereau was ridiculously insufficient to prove Dreyfus's guilt;: (2) if, as suggested, Dreyfus was condemned on any other evidence, then it was secret evidence not communicated to him or his counsel, and it was therefore illegal. Dreyfus never ceased to assert his innocence and demand a new trial. It may beh ere mentioned that immediately after hia conviction it was alleged that Dreyfus made &■ declaration of his guilt to Captain Lebrun-Benaud. This occurred on the morning of his degradation. Speaking of his ease he protested his innocence, and stated that, considering the fortune he possessed and the brilliant future he had befdre him, he couls have no interest in betraying bij^ country. Then, according to Captain Lebrun-Benaud, he a4ded these' words:—"l am innocent. In 'three years my innocence will be recognised. The Minister knows it, arid Colonel Paty de Clara came to see me some days ago in my cell, and said'to me that the Minister knew it. The Minister knew that if I gave documents to Germany they were without importance, .and it was to obtain more .important ones in return." These were the words about which so jxracb has been said and written. Dreyfus is npt making a statement; h« is, quoting Colonel Paty de Clam. That officer said: "Tlie Minister of War believes that you are innocent, and, believes that it you. did give documents to Germany they were without importance, and given only with the idea of obtaining more important ones in exchange." The whole sense of the

phrase turns an a "that"; and even in the vague and ambiguous version quoted by Captain Lebrtm-Henaud no one <?an decide whether they are the words of Dreyfus himself or those pf CJolouel Faty de Clam.