General Boulanger is again to the front. On Monday, M.
de
Cassagnac asked leave to make an interpellation about him, and so taunted M. Tirard with moral cowardice, that the Premier fixed Tuesday for the debate, adding that other steps would be taken against the General. On Tuesday, accordingly, he ex- plained that General Boulanger would be sent before a Council of Inquiry, consisting of five great officers, who would investigate the charges made against him. M. de Cassagnac was furious, declared that M. Tirard was acting under "direct orders" from Germany, and as he was originally a jeweller, taunted him with selling false stones. M. Clemencean threw over the General, but demanded a direct vote of censure on the Government as " powerless," and opposed to reform. He hoped, no doubt, for support from the Right ; but the trap was perceived, and the Chamber adopted the Order of the Day by 349 votes to 95. The .decision of the Court of Inquiry is not yet known ; but General Boulanger's friends have withdrawn his candidature for Mar- seilles, and the Communists have denounced him. It is, there- fore, quite possible that the Court may content itself with an order of suspension, and not remove his name from the roll of the Army.
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