Colonel Henry.--“Under the orders of Colonel Picquart.”
M. Labori.--“The chief of the service was M. Picquart. Consequently,
if I rightly understand, Colonel Picquart, who was at the head of the
service, asked M. Gribelin, who was under his orders, like Major Henry
himself, to give him, by opening the closet with the key,--that is,
under the most natural conditions,--a file that was a part of Colonel
Picquart’s service. Is that it?”
Colonel Henry.--“Exactly. If I had been present, I would have pointed
out to Colonel Picquart that my instructions, given me by Colonel
Sandherr, were to give this file to nobody, except in the presence of
the sub-chief of staff, the chief of staff, and myself.”
The Judge.--“It was Colonel Sandherr who gave those orders. He is dead,
I believe.”
Colonel Henry.--“He was sick and unconscious.”
M. Labori.--“Under these circumstances Colonel Sandherr had been
replaced by Colonel Picquart. Does Colonel Henry invoke against Colonel
Picquart, then his chief, instructions given him by a previous chief?
Will Colonel Henry tell us who succeeded Colonel Picquart in the war
offices?”
Colonel Henry.--“Colonel Picquart’s successor is General Gonse,
sub-chief of staff, for it was to General Gonse that Colonel Picquart
handed over his service when in November, 1897, he started on a
mission.”