The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-15
Severe Fighting Before Paris-Ide Gov
erument Forces Rcpulsed.

has been severe fighting around Paris during
the past three days, and that the government
forces have been repulsed. Our special reports
from both Versailles and Paris add to this i'm
preston, and a brief despatch from London,
which simply says, "The Versailles forces have
been repulsed every where around Paris, con-
firms it. The dispatches of our correspond
ents, as well as the other accounts, make 1t
evident that there were engagements on
Wednesday and Thursday nights, at Asnieres
and Neuilly on the west, and in front Of Fort
Vanvres on the south of the French capital.
The conflict before the last named place was
witnessed from the fort by our correspondent
He reports that the scene was magnificent;
that the rifle firing was the heaviest he had
ever heard, and that the peculiar granting sound
of the mitrailleuse was lncessant. He adds
that the forces of the government were badly
repulsed, suffering heavily in killed and
wounded, and speaks Of the insurgents as
elated by their success.
The engagement referred to in the foregoing
took place on Wednesday night. On Thurs
day the fighting was resumed, and it seems to
have been exceedingly s,vere in the vicinity
of Asnieres and Neuilly. AT one time part
of the forces of General Dombrowsk gave
way. He sent for renlorcemeets, which
were forwarded, and in the night the Commu-
nal journals announced that the Army of Ver-
sailles had been everywhere repulsed. Yes
terday the battle was probably resumed; but
OF that we are not certain. There seems,
however, to be no doubt that thus far the re-
suit of the fighting has been unfavorable to
the upholders of law and order. II the insur-
gents have not been able to assume the Often
sive, they have at least succeeded in holding
their own, and our present fear is that this
fact will disheartcn the French army support
ing the government of M. Theirs.
Although we are satisfied that reverses have
attended the arms of Marshal MacMahon's
forces, we do not think they render probable
the final success of the Communists. No dec-
sive battle has yet been fought. All the actions
which have thus far taken place seem to have
been brought out in the effort to take up GER
tain positions from which to operate the
more decisively against Paris. AT the present
time the insurgents must be superior in num-
bers to the government forces, but they cannot
recruit, while M. Theirs has three hundred
thousand veterans in Germany from which to
recruit The existing disparity must conse-
quently disappear before long, unless the
troops which have been repulsed beceme so
disheartened as to be rendered Ineffective.
Herein lies the danger of M. Theirs. At the
best the soldiers do not feel any great conf
dence in his government, and the fact that
they are fighting their own countrymen-a
fact by the way, to which the insurgents are
supremely indifferent-united with their
failure in the field, must naturally have de-
pressing effect
Unless the brief despatch from London, to
which we have already referred, reports the
result of yesterdays fighting, we have no in
telligence concerning the military operations
of that day. A despatch from Versailles
states that the cannonading was severe at
Asnieres and Clamart, but with little result
At the hour of writing this we have no later
reports from Paris than those dated on Thurs
day night, so that it is difficult to arrive at
any conclusion regarding yesterdays conflict.
Severe as was the damage Inflicted on Paris
by the Prussians during the late siege, it
promises to be mere trife compared with the
damage which will be done the city during the
present Msurrection. Our spe cial correspond
ent reports that many shells are falling in the
streets, and that two millions of francs worth
of property has already been destroyed.
As if to invite destruction, the insur-
gents have mounted heavy guns in
the most populous quarters with which to
reply to the fire from Mont valerien. AS
might be supposed, the result of this absurd
action-for the insurgents will not be able to
injure Mont Valerien-has been and will con-
tinue to he most disastrous to Paris.
All the other items of news from France are
interesting. Our Versailles correspondent
states that some of the commanders Of the in
surgents have offered to sell the gates of Paris
and Of Forts Issy and Vanvres to the govern
ment forces, and that M. Theirs has refused to
make the purchase. We believe the insur-
gents quite capable of the treachery, and if NJ.
TAers has refused the offer he has committed
an error. Why should he be so punctilious,
after peremptoriy refusing to recognize the
Commun SITS as anything else than rebels
The peace delegation from Paris to whom he
made this refusal have returned and reported to
the Commune the result of their visit to ver-
Sailles. Following this we have declaration
from one of the Communal ministers to the
effect that cancellation is impossible"
Altogether the prospect for France is very
grave and very mournful. While we are con-
ident that the present struggle will terminate
In the overthrow Of the insurgents, we fear
that the results of the engagements of the past
two or three days will protract it. 1t is a sad
thing for Paris, for France and for Europe to