They are all
provided with rams. A ram is a very heavily reinforced projecting bow.
Many war-vessels are built this way, so that they may run down and sink
their antagonists in time of war. You will remember that the famous
Confederate ram _Merrimac_ employed this mode of attack as a last
resort, in her famous fight with the _Monitor_ during the Civil War. She
was not successful, for she did not strike the _Monitor_ squarely. With
their immense weight these monitors could pierce with their rams the
armor of almost any ship and sink it.

* * * * *

On Wednesday, February 23d, M. Zola was found guilty of publishing a
letter criticising the Government for its conduct in the Esterhazy
court-martial and declaring the innocence of Albert Dreyfus. This letter
was published in the Paris _Aurore_, whose editor is M. Perreux. M. Zola
was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, and was also fined 3,000
francs, or about $600. As we told you in our last number, M. Perreux was
condemned to serve four months in prison and pay 4,000 francs. In
summing up--that is, in making his final address to the court--M.
Labori, counsel of M. Zola, made touching references to the unhappiness
of the Dreyfus family, the courage of the wife of the prisoner, and the
letter from the disgraced man in September, 1897, protesting his
innocence. The remarks made a great sensation in the court-room, many
people weeping.

The jury was out but a very short time, and returned with the sentence
as stated above, which is the maximum penalty for the crime for which
Zola was arrested. Civilized nations feel very sorry for France, for she
has lowered herself in the eyes of the world. It is almost universally
believed that Zola proved his charges, and outside of France Dreyfus is
believed to be innocent.

It would seem that the French Government is bound to uphold the decision
of the court-martial at any cost, so as not to be compelled to recall
Dreyfus and have a new trial. It is deemed necessary to suppress the
Dreyfus agitation.

Four newspapers in Paris, including the _Aurore_, have been notified
that unless they cease their attacks they will be prosecuted by the
Government. Many correspondents have been warned to write in different
vein about the case. Colonel Picquart, as we told you last week, has
been obliged to leave the army, and the Government has dismissed M. Le
Blois, Perreux's counsel, and one of Zola's witnesses, who