The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-22

nOuQcln6 Tue entrance OIL Tue HOVeTHiueuI
forces into Paris =
VERSAILLES, May 81, $50 O'clock P. NJ,
VIA BoULoGNE, May 81, 1871. :
The forces of the Versailles government
have entered Paris.
A SIGNIFICANT SILENCE.
The manner in which the entry was made
has created general surprise. At about q
quarter of an hour before three o'clock this
afternoon Captain Treves, of the navy, COM
handing portion of the forces opposite Point
du Jour, noticed that an unusual silence
regned along the Communist lines. Deter
mined to ascertain the cause he left the
trenches and advanced toward the ramparts.
Instead of being received with volley of
musketry, as it was expected he would be,
the soldiers in the trenches saw him walk up
to the Porte de st. Cloud unresisted and
pass through into the city.
THE RAMPARTs DESERTED.
On reaching the ramparts Captain Treves
perceived that the entire line Of works had
been evacuated. Not an insurgcnt was to be
seen as far as the eye could reach, so complete
was the desertion. The silence which reigned
was oppressive, and the scene which met the
eye was mournfully suggestive of the terrible
effect of the fire from the government batteries
at Montretout and other points. The Porte
de St. Cloud was an utter wreck, as was
also the Porte de Billancourt, which latter was
subsequently ailenced. On all sides The ground
was ploughed up by the hail of shells poured
into the quarter. Houses battered down and
their debris strewing the streets, and trees
icllcd TO the earth, were seen on al sides. The
ramparts, too, were badly battered. The
wonder is that the Communists could have
held them as long as they did.
THE QUARTER EVACUATED.
The Point du Joar, as your readers are well
aware, is the name given to the southwestern
quarter Of Paris, lying on the right bank OF the
Seine, adjoining the southern extremity Of the
Bots de Dou.ogne. 1t has three entrances
Porte de Billancourl; a second, the Porte de
st. Cloud, leading into the Route de Versailles,
which passes through the centre of the quar-
ter, and third, the Porte de Auteui, at the
end of an avenue in the Bois de Boulogne,
which becomes the Route de Bo1logne on en-
tering the city.
ADVANCE OF THE TROOPS.
On discovering that the insurgents had
abandoned the ramparts Captain Trcves
hurried back to the trenches, and Immediately
ordered force of 800 sailors 10 advance and
take possession of the deserted works. This
was TIE first intimatiol the troops had that
the consummation Of their labors Of several
weeks was near at hand. When, however,
the fact was made known to them, a rousing
cheer was given, amid the most intense cx-
element.
GENERAL ENTRY.
AT double quick step the battalion of
sailors marched over the short distance
between the trenches and the ramparts, and
were soon within the walls of the city. Other
troops followed them. and before any one
could fully appreciate the Importance of what
was taking place the grand entry into Paris
had commenced. Not rifle was fired nor
man wounded. The whole affair was COM
plete surprise to the government troops, who
expected 10 have to fight their way over the
ramprats at the point Of the bayonet.
PORTE D'AUTEUM ENTERED
AS soon as the news went along the line a
general advance was ordered. On the troops
nearing the Porte d'Auteuil a few insurgents
who remained there (probably men who had
been forced to fight for the Commune and who
had availed themselves of the opportunity to
dcseri) hoisted q white flag, and the soldiers
entered unopposed. The same scene of de-
struction and dcsolaton was met with here as
at the Porte de st. Cloud.
MARCHING UP THE AVENUE bruno.
A brief period after the first entry the troops
in the Bols de Boulogne opposite the Porte do
Montrouge advanced and took possession Of
the ramparts and commenced marching up