The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-12-07
ROSSEL.
THE HERO OF THE COMMUNE.
From lie New Yorx TImes.l

l
career Of Rossel, the youthful genius of III,
Commune, has been brought to Close a.
last. Yesterday morning the unfortunat,
young man was shot, by order of th,
French government. Louis Nathsnie
Ressel was native Of ST. Breuc, in the de-
partment Of Cotes-du.Nord and was born
In 1914, being not quite twenty eight year.
Of age at the time Of bis execution. In
1883 be graduated at the Military school
Of La Fleche, and in 1862 at the Polytech.
mic school. In 1864 he was appointed
| Sub lieutenant Of engineers at the School
Of Artillery in Metz, became Lieu,enan,
OF engineers in 1896, and attained the
rank Of Captain on Aug. 2, 1870. The
outbreak Of the war against Prussia found
him still attached to the fortress Of Metz,
where he remained until the close Of the
siege and the capitulation Of BazaiEe. On
Oct 20, the very day that the Germans en-
tered ::the fortress, Rossel slipped out 10
disguise. Passing through Belgium and
England, he joined NJ. Gsmbetta ut Tour-,
and was by the latter ordered to the north
Of France to ascertain the military force.
and other means available for the defense
Of the country In that section. On his re-
turn from the mission, in the early part Of
December, he Was appointed by Ganbetta
Auxiliary Colonel and Director Of En-
cheering in the camp at Movers.
As soon ~ intelligence ofthe COmmunis 81
revolt in Paris iaaehed him through the
newspapers, he wrote 10 the Minister of
War at Versailles, announcing bis deter
mination to abandon his post and tender
his services to the Commune. On ar
irving in Paris he was introduced TO the
Central Committee, and by it intrusted
with the command of the Legion OF the
Eighteenth Advertisement. Through his
untlfing zeal and military knowledge, the
legion was SOON brought 10 high state OF
discipline, but the result displeased the
District Committee, and he was by its
order srrested on the ID Of April OF the
present year. Through the exertions of
one Of his officers be was soon released,
and was then selected by the adventurer,
Cluseret, then acting as Delegate Minister
Of War for the Commune, for the position
of Chief Of STAFF, the duties of which he
fulfilled until the 2Cth Of April. On the
30th Clusere! was deposed by tho Com
mune, and Rsssel was installed in his
place as Delegate Minister Of War and
virtual Commsnder-in-C Chief Of the Com
munist forces. From the 10Th Of April
down 10 the time of his elevation to the
War Office, he had also presided over the
courtmartial instituted for the summary
trial Of citizens who refused TO march
against the French army, and TO the
inaexible rigor and superhuous zeal
manifested by him in the discharge Of the
duties Of his position he was in great
measure indebted for bis appointment.
Rossel assumed the full discharge Of the
duties With which he had been Entrusted
at once, and continued to exercise prsc.
tically supreme functions until the 9Th Of
May. On the following day, however,
the commune decreed his arrest, in con-
sequence, doubtless, Of the reverse sus-
tanned by its forces in the capture of Fort
lssy by the regular army, and the lack Of
ments on the lukewarmness and general
decentralization OF the insurgents. He
was intrusted to the custody Of man
named Girsrdin, with whom he at once
disappeared. Meanwhile the commune
fell, and on the 7th OF June Rossel was ar.
rested by the police of the regular gov
eminent while endeavoring to escape in
the disguise ola railway employe. He
was brought TO trial before the c0urt-mar-
tisl in Angus, and, after long hearing,
was convicted and condemned TO death.
Great sympathy was manifested with the
unfortunate young man, and there would
have been general feeling Of relief IL he
bad been acquitted. He met his doom
like man, and his near relatives were
equally unmoved. The father, mother,
and sister Of the condemned man were in
court whom the sentence Of death was read,
and not tear was shed. Earnest efforts
were made TO procure pardon or COM
mutation Of the sentence, but the court Of
revision confirmed 1t, and President
Theirs refused 10 interfere. Meanwhile
young Rossel was At work In prison on
work upon the military reorganization of
the army, and repeatedly expressed his
readiness to die. The announcement that
he has been executed is sufficient to cause
regret at the unhappy fate of a man for
whom a brilliant and useful future was
possible.
The noblest of the Communist leaders
who survived defeat was uuques,ionably
Rossel. When other people were flying
out Of Paris, Rossel Travelled some humid
reds Of miles, and overcsme may obstacles
in order to get into it, simply because he
beloved that the surrender to Germany
was premature, and that the capital was
to become the centre of q new resistance.
Here are the salient points of his later
career az summed up by Texier, of tho
Steele: "This man appearing suddenly
in Paris, taking command of the insur-
rectionary army, threatening to shoot q
member Of the Central Committee who
asked him to give up fort, abandoning
the committee because they countermanded
his order sending his resignation couchcd
In farm. ~ euproma disdain and claimi n %