The Portland daily press., 1871-04-22
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
It OR EIGN.
FRANCE
FRANCE
Desperate Fighting Still COntfn-
NeS.
AN AWFUL SLAUGHTER.
Paris Being Destroyed by Artillery
AsN1EREs CAPTURED BY STRATEGY.

vi 10 DoinS DeSIlVyOu w Ai'iioAJ
AsNIEREs CAPTURED BY STRATEGY.
PARIS April 19-Wednesday noon.-The
taking of Asnieres was acco mplished by strate-
gem. The troops of stbe line Stimulating
friendship and differentiation thus passed the
0utposts of the insurgents without difficulty.
Buildings at Asnieres were destroyed. The
communists are building blrricades in Rue Ill
wolf and many other streets.
ENGAGEMENT ALONG THE WHOLE LINE ON
WEDNESDAY.
At2 80 o'clock to-day there was an engage
ment along the whole line.
Dombrowski reports that Versailles agents
have assassinated Nationals, and police agents
have stripped dead communists on the field !;
also that their troops attempted to surprise the
insurgents Outposts at Asnieres. The trick,
failed however, and the enraged nations drove
them back
1t is reported that the Communists are mus
tering on Grande Quite Island and erecting
batteries. 70 ~ ~ ("
The Communists have retaken their posi-
tions with 60 tons of provisions. The fighting
continues and is of a bloody CHI: "a ter. The in
surgent right wing is makiI & strategic
movement with the view of enveloping the
Versailles troops, who have advanced too far.
Levallais was guttered and sacked. Rue AS
nieres is full of dresses, furniture aud CHG
mons. The Nationals were sheltered behind
the houses, supported by iron-clad cars and
fixed batteries. -
rien and Courbevos are Smelling Paris fright
fully. The Arc de TriOmphe has fallen, and
the Avenue des Terres is visited by a shower of
shell. Forty civilians were killed. General
Dombrowski still claims a victory, but the Ma
tionals are returning dispirited and Disguised.
1t has been an awful slaughter. Dombrowski
complains of the inefficency of the officers; and
the chiefof staff, hobart, has been arrested by
order of ClusuIet The American mitrailleuses
have been moved to the front. Dombrowski
says that he is waiting for the cooperation of
the gunboats, which will be ready in few
DAYS.
The Communists are mining houses held BY
Versailles troops in Asnieres. The Arc was
blown up at o'clock, near the church. There
was frightful explosion.
DESPERATE FIGHTING AT NEUILLy.
PARIS, April 20.-Evening.-Tbere has been
desperate 1house- housed fighting all day at
Neuilly and Sevallois. The forces of the As
sembly have been reinforced at Neuilly, but
the Com nunists defend with great tenacity
the barricade opposite the position of the Yer
sailles troops. The cannonading was incessant
throughout the day. The Versaillists have
not occupied the village of Asneras, but are
entrenched at the railway station tn Colonies
Wood.
The fire of the Versailles batteries greatly
tries the Nationals, but though they have suff-
cred heavy loss they are still undaunted.i
A decisive engagement is impending at Mail
lot Gate, the ramparts adjoining which are o
heap of ruins.
The Bien Public refuses to stop publication
The compositors of most of the journals are
engaged in rioting.
PREPARATIONS FOR A soRTIE.
PARIS, April 21.-General O'Kolowitz has
been wounded. The Versailles army have
thrown up entertainments on the left bank of
hn ~ ovad traits
teaux and Courbevoise with the apparent in :.
tention of making sortie against Lavalos
and Villieres.
The cannonade of Maillot gate continues.
The journals whose suppression was recently
ordered continue to appear.
ANOTHER BATTLE IMMINENT.
Especial to N. Y. World. ]-Anotber revolu-
the Central COMMITTEES, accusing the members
of negotiating with M. Theirs to betray Paris
The National Guards are indignant and
threaten to arrest the commune unless the
committee are released. Complete anarchy
reigns.
Z ,la GERMANY sUsTAINs ALsAcE. grass
LONDON, April 21.-Germany supports the
claims of the inhabitants of Alsace against
France. ID
WILL NOT TREAT WITH REBELS. 81
/ VERSAILLES, April 2O.-The Assembly has
rejected the motion to treat with the Paris
government 4is =
/ VERSAILLES, April 21-The assertion of the
Communists that they have recovered the posi-
tions lost on ths 18th, is false. The insurgents
have been driven to the right bank of the Seine,
and have not attempted to return to Asnieres
The Prussians intend to surrender the forts
around Paris still in their possession to the
lawful government s7E1
The 500,000O00 of francs indemnify, due
the April 1st, is still unpaid.
Several barricades, with number of pris-
oners and several cannon. were captured yes
terday at Wemilet. The cannon have been
presented to M. Theirs, who congratulated the
troops upon their achievement
The Prussian military authorizes have requir-
ed the government to furnish information as to
the number of troops daily arriving at YER
sailles. -st.
PROPOSITION FOR TREATY.
The Tribune correspondent at Versailles
Thursday, says Brionet, deputy, proposed to
the assembly that a committee of % be ap-
pointed to treat with the Paris government,
and to force Cancellation and an armistice in
vious question was carried against considera
BILE minority.
The Versailles troops are consolidating their
positions at Asnieres. Pouyes Querter has
been at the Prussian quarters at Soissy to ask
RETURN OF PRISONERS.
ST. DENIS, April 2O.-Seven thousand troops
udSo ACdCucu ftISdllieS lTOI OWltZ6rlaQu, and
81. 600 are ready to leave the same quarter for
Versailles. There is to be meeting OF gener
ais to arrange a joint attack on the Insurgents.
A floating battery has been Constructed on the
Seine. M .f...--
Great Britain.
LONDON, April N-The Lords tonight pass.
ed the military bill. In the House of Com
mons several members gave notice of mo-
tiens adverse to Mr.. loves financial plans.
The subject of the declaration of Paris of
inst unfn oriv 1I.~l,,
principal that neutral flag covers an enemy's
goods came up,
MIR. Bentwick argued in favor of the with
drawal of England from the agreement and ad-
vocated the resumption of the right ofsearch
He believed that the United States and other
powers would disregard the declaration in
case of war. 81
Sir Rounded Palmer, Stephen Cave and
others spoke to the same effect.
The Attorney General replied, defending
the Paris declaration, aud said it was impossi-
BILE to escape its obligations. .-t
Disraeli lamented that the subject had not
been introduced earlier SO that it might have
been brought to the attention OF the recent
conference of the powers in London. It was
agreed that the declaration was injurious to
England, but must be respected till formally
revoked. .'rtlsIil-I f.'
Mr. Gladstone insisted that the declaration
was binding and its revocation not to be
thought of.
THE INSURGENTS RECOVERING GROUND.
The Tribune correspondent at Paris Thurs
day says the national guards maintain the
head Of Asnieres bridge. The commune has
declared the election of candidates who have
received relative majorities valid. Gen. Clus-
eret reproves the garrison OF the North for
wasting their ammunition. Gen. Gerst has
been degraded and imprisoned for refusing to
make famished battalion march. Dombrow.
ski says the enemy have made no further at
tack. Troops are fortfying their positions and
resting. There has been more fighting at AS
nieres and the insurgents have recovered their
ground. It has been proposed in the commune
to dismiss Rigaultar from the prefecture of DO
lice.
Cuba.
CHANGE OF TACTICS
HAVANA, April 2.-The tactics of the Span
iards is to be changed, but Maseda intends to
conhne the war to one section of the country.
he proposes to drive the insurgents out of GER
tain jurisditi0ns, then follow them and force
them into subsection. Valmazeda will remain
in the Jurisdictions of Sanctu Spiritus and
Moran until the establishment OF military
Gordon. which will make the passage of the