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

Important News from Francc-The Commune
the Eve Of CoIlapse-The Versailles
Troops In Paris.
Good news at last from France. The Yer
sailles troops entered Paris yesterday. This
news comes to us from our special correspond
ents in Versailles, and is corroborated by the
intelligence received through other sources.
From information at hand 1t appears that the
forces Of the Commune made but small show
ofopposition, and that the success of the forces
under the command of Marshal MacMahon have
achieved an almost bloodless victory. While
the guns Of Fort Valerien were pouring in
their rain of shot and shell on the ramparts,
which extend along line in front of the Bots
de Boulognc, preparations for the assault
were going on at points to the south and
southwest of the city. During the whole of
Saturday night the bombardmcnt was kept up
from Fors Valerien, and this, probably, with
the idea of impressing the Communists with
the notion that from that direction
the grand assault would be made.
Indeed, this view is in measure confirmed,
If the news prove true, by the fact that Gen.
| VIA bOmUioWSAI was preparing W ohSA ~
sistance to the Versaillsts outside the walls
with the forces under his command in the Bots
| de Boulogne. He and General Wroblewski,
who was reported in the neighborhood OF
GENTLY, were the only Commune generals
outside the walls of the city. While the
bombardment from ValGrien was kept up
the movement on the ramparts stimuli
tancously on the southwest at
point near the Point du Jour and on the south
point near Fort Montrouge was made.
The resistance, so far as can bo ascertained
at present. on the part of the insurgents was
indicated, has been accomplished, so far as
known at present, with small sacrifice of life.
The Arc dc Triomphe has also, according TO
tho kilograms, been reached by tho republican
forces NJ Theirs in a proclamation au-
nounces that the gate of st. Cloud having been
battered down by the guns Of the besieging
forces, afforded an opportunity to the forces
in that vicinity 10 enter the city. This adj
vantage was improved by General Douai,
who, at the head Of his troops, rushed
into the city. Generals Ladmirault and
Clenchamps, who were also in that neighbour
hood, ascertanng that Douai was successful
aud had really got within the city walls, were
at latest accounts preparing to follow the
example set them. AS yet we have no news
concerning the main body of the army, which,
according to previous dispatches, was concen-
tratcd in the Bots de Boulogne under the i'm
mediate command Of the Duke of Magenta
The position held by General Douai is now
within the walls Of Paris, and already tho
telegraph wires communicating with the inte-
| ror of the city proper have been cut
From a report made by General Cisscy it
appears also that Fort Montrouge and the
MalakoiI have been evacuated by the Commune
troops, who have retired within the encei1eG.
The guns, therefore, of these places are silent,
but from the rampar.s heavy cannonad, is
| still kept up by the insurgents. This intelli-
gence does not coincide with previous des-
patch, which announces that the gate OF
| Montrouge was one of the points at which
the forces of the republic entered the city.
| The firing a. this point must have been very
severe. The terror-sricken inhabitants of
| Montrouge are flying in all directions from
their homes, which I'VE been rendered I'M
tenable by the canuonadag from the contend
ing forces. BY this time probably the
evacuated positions of the Commune
troops at Montrouge and The Malakoff
are occupied by General Cssey, who
expressed determination to take possession
of these points Immediately. We arc rather
Inclined to The opinion that as yet the city has
not been entered a. this point, for almost i'm
mediately within tt walls here the insurgents
have erected formidable barbados, which
they will defend with bitter determination. !.
From the news before us there is little
reason to doubt but that an entrance into
| Paris has been effected at two or three points,
but the victory 80 far which has crowned the
efforts of the Versailles troops is not the final
triumph. This they have yet 10 win, and this
may have to be bought at a far delrer price
than that which has resulted by the cross
ing of the eaacei,ate. The barbados still exist.
the army of the Commune is still in the
city, and the organization which they lack fits
them better for fighting behind barricades
than encounters in the open field. These are
the new difficulties which the forces of Mac
Mahon have now to overcome. Last night
Paris was in feverish state Of ex-
element. Mounted couriers flying through
the streets, if nothing more, informed
the inhabitants Of the unfortunate CAPT
tai that the day of their deliverance was
near at hand. We discrcdit the announce
ment that the Versailists were repulsed, and
we are inclined to lean toward the idea that
many of the prominent leaders of this unjusti-'
fable rebellion have fed from the city which
they have disfgured and nom the people they
have tyrannized over.