The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-22
Paris and misunderstanding for the Final
Assault.

Our special dispatches from Paris are to
the evening of the Goth inst. During all that
day the fighting had been going on with great
energy, the insurgents being driven at. all
points. and followed to within two hundred
yards of the ramparts of the city. The govern
ment troops are being massed at several places,
and additional batteries have been estab-
lished to the left Of Mont Valerien, which are
ready to open fire. The Prussians are about
to give up all the forts now In their possession
to the Versaillists. Within the city enormous
barbados have been erected In the Rue Ri
wolf and Place Concorde. bitches six feet
deep have been dug, and every preparation
made for the most obstinate street fighting.
Provisions are very scarce, and horse
flesh is again being sold. General
Cluseret has rendered his resignation
because the Communists are running into ex-
cesses; but it was not accepted. The exodus
from Paris continues to be very great. The
scene in the Avenue Josephine is awful. At
the gates of the hospital crowds Of women
with streaming hair are uttering loud shrieks
and demanding their husbands and brothers.
Many children have been wounded. A person
from Versailles states that the great and fnal
attack is arranged and the troops to make it
have been detailed. General Dombrowski has
disappeared, supposed to be dead or wounded.
Everything in Paris now Indicates panic.
The Nationals may remain true TO the Com
mune, but it is thought to be doubtful. The con-
dition is one of complete anarchy. A reign of
terror exists Horror is heaped upon horror
The worst has not come yet, and all are waiting
anxiously for what the next few days will
bring forth.
The above is delightful picture of the con-
dtion to which Paris has been reduced, not
by foreign foe, but by those ''to the manner
born" and the end is not yet. There are two
points, however, in the news we have re-
ceived, which indicate clearly, we think,
that the situation of the forces of the Com
mune is becoming very desperate. They are
that Cluseret has rendered his resignation
and Dombrowski has disappeared-thought to
be dead or wounded. Like rats deserving a sink
ing ship they desire to leave the cause they
find hopeless. The Commune declined to
receive the resignation Of the former, so
the probabilities are if he cannot get away
from the locality he has made SO warm by
fair means he will leave anyhow. We do
not think that Dombrowski is either dead or
wounded He is probably sensible
man, and has seen what his fate
is sure to be if he remained much longer
riu In has Nhok1 vco1
discretion the better part of valor, and, like a
prudent person, has left for parts unknown,
not wishing to gain additional military expe-
rience and renown in the vicinity of the adj
vancing army of MacMahon. There are others,
probably, who have kept him company, and it
would not surprise us to learn that all the
superior officers of the army of the Commune
had disappeared, supposed to be killed or
wounded, leaving the brunt of the fighting yet
to come off to the subalterns. Well, we cannot
blame them. Self-preservation is the first law
of nature, and these men, who have fought with
zeal and bravery worthy of better cause,
knowing what chance for life they would have
if captured, have wisely gone to ''where the
woodbine twineth, wishing, doubtless, to 'live
to fight another day." and this fact proves
conclusively that the Commune has had at
least two sensible men in its army, who have
not cared, and who did not dare to stand by
its waning fortunes.
From the proximity of the government
troops to the enceinte, and the massing Of
heavy bodies of men at points near the prlnci-
pal entrances to the city, we judge that the
assault will not be long postponed The
report from Versailles is that the detail for the
forlorn hope has been made. If the National
Guards do defend the city as it is capable Of
being defended, with the bar ricades and
bitches that have been constructed and
dug, the fight is certain to be one of
the most obstinate and bloody on record.
Frenchmen understand street fighting and
French troops have had experience in assault
ing barrcade. Both require obstinate
bravery and stubborn determination, and as
no quarter will be asked or given, the NOR
tally must necessarily be terrible. The
coming week will, we fear, be dark page in
the history of Franco fit companion for
many that have preceded it but 1t will be
necessity that cannot be overcome, unless by
unconditional surrender Of the Commune and
Its army. At present there is no prospect of
such an arrangement. The bloody work must
60 on and thousands more of lives be sacri-
feed to crafty the ambition Of few uncrupu-
lous men. We feel the utmost confidence in
the complete success Of the government troops;
we believe they will overcome every obstacle
and restore the authority Of M. Theirs in Paris,
but In doing so they will have to sustain
heavy losses and make great sacrifices. They
will, however, be doing everything for France,
and those who survive will feel q just pride
in knowing that they saved their country from