Others; French Army;History

[BobW]

A colleague of mine knowing that I'm studying French military history, sent me something re the 5 January anniversary of the Dreyfus affair.

Question; Does anyone know what Dreyfus was actually charged with? I cannot find the definitive answer? The closest I come to involved plans of a =hydrolic break= for a cannon given to the Germans. Is this correct?

Any and all assistance appreciated. Merci in advance.

Saluations,
BobW

 

[Rapace]

Bob: Capt Dreyfus, a specialist in artillery, was accused of smuggling information to the Germans about the highly modern (at that time) and innovative French 75 mm cannon. It had a special hydraulic recoil management feature that avoided having to aim it again after each round fired. This was of course significantly increasing the firing rate.

 

[voltigeur]

was it not a trumped up charge?

 

[Croquemort]

Sir,

You are correct the charge of espionage was trumped up against the obscure Jewish Capt. in 1894. France at the time was vehemently anti semite stirred up by the Catholic newspaper 'La Libre Parole' and by the church.

Dreyfus was sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. Meanwhile a review charged Maj. Esterhazy with the same offence. Despite consderable evidence against him he was acquitted by the military court.

The famous French writer Emile Zola took the side of Dreyfus and wrote the celebrated article 'J'accuse'. This caused a schism in Dreyfusards and Anti Dreyfusards. The public outcry became such that another enquiry was called for and a Col. Henry was charged with the same espionage offence but committed suicide prior to his trial.

In 1899 Dreyfus was pardoned and restored to his former rank.

Rgds- Caniche. ATR 'Bello Te Praepares'.

 

[voltigeur]

thank you Mr. Undertaker, I'll be ready soon for you

 

[Eagle eye]

...You are correct the charge of espionage was trumped up against the obscure Jewish Capt. in 1894.

He was a French captain and patriot of Jewish spirituality and descent: an important distinction needs to be made..

 

[Croquemort]

The adjective obscure related to his Captaincy not his religeon. Obscure correctly used in the sense of meaning 'undistinguished' in service. Yes he was a patriot and it was a very sad and shameful affair from which he never fully recovered.
Caniche.

 

[Eagle eye]

The adjective obscure related to his Captaincy not his religeon. Obscure correctly used in the sense of meaning 'undistinguished' in service. Yes he was a patriot and it was a very sad and shameful affair from which he never fully recovered.
Caniche.

Well, I hope that there is no confusion-creation either for I related to your use of the 'Jewish officer' composite noun which implies an officer of the State of Israel even though there wasn't one at the time. It would be more accurate to say 'French officer of Jewish-origin'. His accusers would most likely not detract from using the term 'officier juif' as a slur on his good name whereas his defenders would most likely reply 'officier français d'origine juive'.

I hope the semantics is clear for I was not referring to 'obscure', right !
And stop grovelling with the use of the term 'Sir' on this board: legionnaires don't use hence why should you...Patrick is Patrick; and Boss is Boss to all...

 

[Croquemort]

Eagle you carry no weight with me whatsoever. I shall call Joe, Sir when I so desire as a token of respect.You are a mere Peter Pan. Go away and play with the fairies or in military parlance 'piss off'.

I do however find your posts topical and of interest but have a contempt for your so called integrity and you have only yourself to blame for abusing a trust.

As to Dreyfus he was a a soft target at the time since he was a Jew.

I am not a soft target so wind your little neck in.You do not impress me one iota and you certainly will not tell me how to address anyone. IT AIN'T YOUR BUSINESS.

By the way Boss is a SAS term of appellation.

Caniche.

 

[Eagle eye]

Eagle you carry no weight with me whatsoever. I shall call Joe, Sir when I so desire as a token of respect.You are a mere Peter Pan. Go away and play with the fairies or in military parlance 'piss off'.

I do however find your posts topical and of interest but have a contempt for your so called integrity and you have only yourself to blame for abusing a trust.

As to Dreyfus he was a a soft target at the time since he was a Jew.

I am not a soft target so wind your little neck in.You do not impress me one iota and you certainly will not tell me how to address anyone. IT AIN'T YOUR BUSINESS.

By the way Boss is a SAS term of appellation.

Caniche.

You're on the wrong turf in this FFL board for such outlandish talk, mate: start your own...or just move on to other 'international boards before 'the MOD confidential number' knows ABOUT YOU...This is serious about your 'sensitive post' talk/flaunt on this board...

Don't you ever have the impudence to tell me how to address people.

YOU ARE A MAN WHO LACKS HONOUR. YOU HAVE DIVULGED PERSONAL DATA WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU IN A PRIVATE CAPACITY.

You are a gutless individual who was too scared to make a telephone call to sort out a problem in a gentlemanly manner.

Enough said as far as I am concerned eccept that if you had any integrity you would have apologised for publishing personal details given in good faith.

Your other statements are of no consequence whatsoever since they were inaccurate and merely abusive.

If you prefer to give me you home address and details when I next go to Europe we might be able to meet up and clear the air. It is entirely up to you.

Don't you ever have the impudence to PM me again - ever again...

 

[Croquemort]

Oh my hero I am so impressed !

 

[Eagle eye]

I think that you've been itching to settle a score on the board for a while...

PS. I try to dish out relevant and accurate advice to the wannabes who are going to take their chances and enter the FFL jungle - not that it applies to you, so I can see why you don't see such advice relevant. This begs the question: what are you doing on this FFL board ?....

 

[Rapace]

You are correct the charge of espionage was trumped up against the obscure Jewish Capt. in 1894. France at the time was vehemently anti semite stirred up by the Catholic newspaper 'La Libre Parole' and by the church.

Croquemort : as you said, Capt Dreyfus' case raised a huge controversy in the French society between the so-called « Dreyfusards » and « anti-Dreyfusards ». I will therefore not concur with the statement that « France was vehemently anti-semite ». « Some parts of the French society, including a significant portion of "establishment", were anti-semite » would have been more accurate. No hard feeling anyway. Your account of the affair is well documented.