A FRENCH SCANDAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13645, 27 March 1915, Page 6

A FRENCH SCANDAL.

MISAPPROPRIATION OP FRENCH

ARMY PROVISIONS

j IPre^* Assn.—By Telegraph- -Cowyrlgut.l j PARIS, March 26. ! The court-martial to inquire into charges against Major Desclaux (Chief Army Paymaster and ' M. Caillaux's exsecretary) and six others of liaviug misappropriated army provisions and supplies for the- benelit of Desclaux's friend, Madame IJechotf, has concluded. -Major Desclaux was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and military degradation, and Madame Bechoff to two \eais.

A report received by tho mail stated : L'affaire Desclaux appears more curious and yet more curious. Rumors of a serious charge of espionage . are authoritatively denied, leaving us face to face with the extraordinary anomaly of a. man m high position, Paymaster to the Forces, with the honorary rank ol major, an officer of the Legion bf Honor, enjoying a salary of almost ±?15Q0 ? stealing packages, of rum, rice, sugar,' legs ot" mutton, hams,- etc., to send them to an exceedingly wealthy, woman. The identity of tl*e mysterious Madame X. has,* m fact, to-day been revealed (wrote the Paris correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph on 30th January.) She is Madame Bechoff, ot* the world-famous dressmaking iirm of. Bechoif David, palatially housed m thPlace Vendome. She is credited with an income of at least £16,000 a year, has a Hat m the Avenue Henri Martin, a villa at Savigny-sur-Grge, which attains the dimensions of a chateau, and two motor ears. Her husband is at' German nationality, Imt was first a naturalised Belgian, then, some time before the war, French.

It appears that M. Desclaux had som» definite interest m the firm, lt is eyon said that he used to act a» a beater v.p of clients for the famous house m Salons, whioh his official position, and the powerful patronage of M. Oailla'ix opened to him.

In the case which is to .come before the court-martial, which will be, m consideration of .the high military rank of the accused — he is commandant or major — presided over by a full-Hedged general, M. Desclaux will be defended by M. Labpri. It is said that the system of defence adopted by him will "be this: He will m substance plead that m tho sector of the front under his jurisdiction as paymaster the. troops were Overlf«d. On isevejral, occasions, 'thejreforo, lie sent the surplus supplies to his wealthy friend,, Madame Bechoff, m Paris, requesting her to forward them to other sections, of the front, where they are more needed. Tho , alternative method of defence which, according to the Figaro, is to be adopted by Madame Bechoff, mlio has been requested to hold herself at the disposal of the authorities, will bo this. M. Desclaux, who is a small eater, found the army portions too copious for hia delicate appetite, and used to send his, surplus from the rations to his friend Madame Bechoff, receiving m exchange from her chicken pate do foie gras and other dainties' more supportable to his feeble digestion and educated palate.

It is unnecessary to underline the grotesque absurdity of both methods of defence. , The fact is tliat the case is extraordinary Ibenebroms. The affaire Desclaux i.s at present passionately canvassed on the boulevards, tj, i a the hrst oause oeLebre since the war broke out, and, curiously enough, it ha* brought into prominence the name of one of the principals m the etijl more celebrated case that immediately preceded the outbreak of hostilities.