The New York herald., 1871-03-31
The Rouge RcbcIlion in France-A Bloody
- crisis Hpproachina. :"

- crisis Approaching: :"
Proclamations and circulars from the ver-
sailles authorities and the Paris insurgent
committee seem about to give way to ener-
getic and, we fear, bloody work. It was, of
course, impossible for the rival governments
to remain long within twelve miles of each
other and content themselves with firing off
''paper bullets;" hence the news we publish
this morning does not come unexpected. Per-
haps it would be exaggerating 70 say that
| fighting has already commenced, but there
was picket firing on the Versailles road on
Wednesday night and although our
| dispatches do not report any firing
| yesterday it is probable enough that
the outposts of the opposing forces
resumed their skirmishing. Which side
will take the initiative is still problematical.
1t is announced from Versailles, however, that
the military commanders have agreed upon
plan of attack o. Paris, and as M. Theirs has
had ample time to concentrate large force in
the vicinity OF the city an advance ought to
be made within the next seven days. One
despatch reports that General yinoy has been
superseded by General Barral, but later
despatch states that viaov is still in com
mand. OF Barrsl we know little. He is
| probably son of the late Count Hppolyte
! de Barral, Senator of the Empire, and, unless
he differs greatly in political sentiment from
his father aud grandfather, must be an i'm
perialist.
We arc uncertain whether tie Germans will
! give the French active aid in restoring order
in Paris. Yesterday NJ Theirs stated in
| the National Assembly that q convention had
been signed by which more German troops
are to enter the city and the French garrison is
to be increased. The despatch, however, is OBJ
scurely worded and conflicts, to some extent,
with previous one, which states that Herr
| Fabrice, the German Civil Administrator in
France, had consented to the French increas-
ing the garrison of Paris to eighty thousand
men, but nothing is said regarding the entrance
! of German troops. If NJ. Thiers has applied
| to Bismarck for aid he will certainly receive
! it; but the application will be a confession Of
| the inability Of his government to suppress the
insurrection, and though its making, under the
circumstances, cannot be regarded as other
| wise than patriotic we fear that its political
effect upon the administration of NJ Theirs
will be fatal.
| Paris (and perhaps st. Etienne) seems to
be the only point in insurrection against the
| Versailles government. The attempt to es-
| tablish the Commune in Marseilles has
completely failed. M. Crdmieux the
| head of the insurgents, has been ar
| rested, and the red flag has disappeared
from the city. Paris, consequently, stands
| isolated, and the question now is whether she
is strong enough to resist the army concen-
trated at Versailles. Itmust be admitted that
the insurgent Sub-Central Committee are act
ing in manner that betokens little apprehen-
sion of failure. On Wednesday NJ. Assy
made violent speech, In which he threat
ened to shoot all enemies of the Commune,
and yesterday one of them-Fouvielle by
| namc-was actually sentenced to death.
AT the same time orders were issued
to search out and arrest all persons op-
posed to the miserable mob in power ia
Paris, thus practically inaugurating second
Reign of Terror. Fortunately for France the
bloodthirsty committee do not display
as much energy against Versailles as
they do against the defencelcss men
in tteir power. Still, there is no telling what
a day may bring forth. Unless they proceed
vigorously at once against the army at ver-
sailles they will find themselves shut up in
Paris and probably starved out. Audacity is
their only ally at present, and it may be that
they will as audaciously attack Versailles as
they audaciousiy drove the Theirs govern
ment from Paris. But whether or not they
inaugurate a warlike movement, it is evident
that crisis is approaching which will only
terminate in bloody encounter between the
Cover ment forces, representing law and or
der, and the Paris communists, representing
anarchy.
TIE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS to our CITY
T.. L T. ~.