New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-16
RnNAPARTISM HFYWING.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN FRANCE-TUE RE-
TURN OF NAPOLEON III. CONTEMPLATED
MILITARY VALUE OF TIE NATIONAL GUARDS.


MILITARY VALUE OF THE NATIONAL GUARDS.
lIRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
PARIS, April 2S.-The military situation has
not changed percopuby during the last eight days in
PARIS that - to say not since the taking OF Asnieres by
the Versailles troops During the last two days, three Of
the forts on the left bank OF the Seine to wit Forts Mont
rouge vanvres and Issy have been heavily bombarded
10y the Government troops. As these three forts
those which suffered the most from the bombardment by
the Prussians il is not likely they will be able to resist
much longer. But suppong that the troops of the AS
scmby should succeed in obtaining possession of Forts
vsnvres Monrouge and Issy, would all resistance in
Paris impossible Such suppOsition cannot he per
mitted a moment and NJ. Theirs lays any such fiat
terng JUNCTION to his soul, he will be apt 10 find himself
cruelty mistaken. He would be able, indeed, to
lombard the whole Of the Faubourg st. German
the Quarter Latin But the inhabitants OF the Rue
Gauche used 10 bOmbardment, and 1t is only the
other day that they underwent one from more terrible
not certainly, reentiessl enemy than NJ Thlers
Having laughed at the Prussians don't think they VIII
yield 70 NJ. Timers. That the other the National
Guards viii be driven out OF Neully and forced to
eonne themselves behind the rampars on the west OF
Paris think there can very little doubt. As soon az
the battery which the Versailles troops erecting at
Gcmcyiiers is completed there viii be such remen-
dous cross-re poured in the unfortunate villages OF
Neuly, Levaois. aud Cchy that they Will become un-
tonahe.
Before concluding this short account OF the military
situation OF Paris at the present moment 1t may DE
as well TO say a few words about the military value OF
tie National Guards, about which many people even
foreigners who ought TO know better appear TO me to
entertain very erroneous notions II Is the fashion to
say here (even among Amerieans): "Ah, II these Ma
tional Guards had only been allowed to measure their
strength with the PrusSans the issue OF the war would
have been very different what was" Most OF the
gentlemen who venture this kind OF statements
have probably not had an opportunity OF seeing the
National Guards under fire. Having been out at
Heuilly several times lately, / have formed
very different opinion of the worth OF the
National Guards as trained soldiers. An Ade-de-
Camp Of Cen DombrOwsH, who accompanied me
my rounds recently, did not care TO conceal his con-
tempt for the troops under the Generals olders For
the defense Of certain POSITIONS rampars and the Ike
my all very WELL" he said, "but to 20 IN line OF
battle with them against regular troops above all such
troops a. Prussians would simply be madness ana
have seen much at Neuiy 10 confirm this view. During
the armlstce, at every barricade, there was caInor
for reGnfOrcenents. "Ah reenforcements said Colo
mel OF National Guards me, "tha is our great sunb
nng-bOck If we have 80 defending barricade, we
are obliged TO have 20 more in reserve behind them II
neglect 10 do this directly the men on the barrcade
find they unsupported for instant they run
away" An officer, during the arnistce On Tuesday
last showed me a barTeade "There," lie said, 'just
look at that barrcsde IL s not only useless but actually
On the way, and yet dare order 1t 10 be destroyed
The took into their heads to build IT without waiting
for orders neither will they obey Inc II ordered them
10 destroy It," Dombrowski has been blamed for
posing himself he does but there doubt that he
is right for it is only his example and that of his staff
that keeps the men at their posts
A the political situation II is hard TO see any issue
from the present state Of chaos. Just as there was
decided turn in favor Of Cancellation in Paris, and just
when discussions had begun 70 be patent among the
members OF the Commune themselves NJ. Dufaure, the
Minister Of Justice Versailles publishes circular so
violent that at first sight aDeied it was forgery In
the interests OF the Commune NJ. Dufaure expressly
eOndenne nay, he goes even further, and requires all
the law officers Of the Republic TO prosecute any news
paper which should dare 70 advocate attempts to bring
about cessation OF the existing civil war In other
words Dufaure condersand intends 20 punish those
who may disagree with him in prnt-tbat it is the mani
fest duty Of Frencbmen TO keep cutting each Others
,broas When recoect that among all shades OF the
Liberal party in Paris doctrine OF the absolute mmu
Pity Of the press from prosecution for any political
inense largely held, il Is evident that such manifesto
Dufaures is enough to drive people previously hos
tile into the arms Of the Commune. Many people in
Psrs hate the Commune with all their soul and all their
strength but then they hate 81 hers and the Versailles
Assembly rather OF course 1t is plain that III.
5hieTs might separate many who wish well to the
Of the Commune, rather who detes the Assem-
bly, and ITS monarchical tendencies by passing
o law which would guarantee municipal liberties
to Paris, and by proclaiming formally the Republic
Bat these are just the two things (which NJ. Theirs will
not DO and now have before the specterand that
no dream disordered intellectual terribly spec
tor-of that worst OF evils that deepest disgrace Of ALL
Bonaparist restoration. few months ago. up tho
18th Of March In fact FTenchman could be brought
discuss seriously the possibility Of Napoleon III.
"Badnguet" they delight 20 call hin,-ever coming
back 10 the Tucries. But they Own with downcast
eyes and in mOurnfu tones that such thing is If not
probable least possible. NJ. Theirs, with true char
acterstc blindness Of those who can rufh TO desruc-
ton has seen NJ 10 nominate Generals who owe every
thbg ia the past Napoleon Ill suppOsng these men
ssht their into Pars through streets kDeedeep IN