Items of Interest September 14, 1899 Issue

Items of Interest

The court-martial trial of Captain Dreyfus ended September 9. The prisoner was convicted of high treason and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. The case was decided after two hours of deliberation. The court stood five to two against the prisoner. M. Demange, the senior counsel, made a brilliant speech in behalf of the prisoner. M. Labori renounced his right to speak. The crowd on the outside greeted the verdict with cheers for the army. All Europe outside of France is filled with disgust and indignation at the verdict. Dreyfus was stupefied when Maitre Labori communicated to him the verdict, but he soon rallied and has seemed in better spirits than might have been anticipated. He is convinced that the ten years imprisonment to which he has been sentenced will be wiped out by the five years solitary confinement on Devil's Island, and he expects to be released by October 15. On this point the lawyers are divided. Many take the same view as the prisoner, while others, among whom is Maitre Demange, think the five years will count for nothing. The judges of the court-martial signed a recommendation for mercy and expressed to the President of the republic their sincere desire that Dreyfus shall not be submitted to a fresh degradation.

President McKinley has returned to Washington and the report is given out that his future course in relation to the new dependencies will be as follows. As soon as the rebellion is crushed in the Philippines a civil government by three commissioners will be established. Military control will be continued in Cuba, until it is determined, by means of a general election, whether the inhabitants desire independence or annexation. For Porto Rico a civil government of the territorial form similar to that now in Arizona. For Hawali a territorial form of government, as recommended by the Hawaiian commission.

Admiral Dewey will be given his home coming welcome in Washington on the night of October 2. On the following afternoon he will receive from the hands of President McKinley, the sword which Congress voted him. Immediately after his arrival he will be granted indefinite leave of absence and will again be assigned to duty only upon his own application. The Admiral will be sixty-two years old December 26, and it is reported that he will at that time be placed upon the retired list.

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