The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30

Our latest dispatches from Paris are 20 the
evening OF the 2sla instant, and from Yer
sailles yesterday. From the details therein
given II h very plain that the end IL drawing
nesr-tha, the moment Is rapidly approaching
when the entire force Of the government will
he hurled against the unfortunate and doomed
city. The Versailles despatch says that the
southern forts were fnrlously bombarded
during AT Of Friday. vsnvres replied with
20 mass Of ruins. The garrison Of the former
viii soon -vscuate the place. They are reported
10 he Wild with terror from the fact that over
four thousand projectiles have fallen within the
work In two days Of bombardment. II is believed
that orders have been given by the rebel
commanders 10 blow mp the forts should they
become untcnable. The forces OF the Com
mune have been divided into two corps
darmfe, one for the external defence, COM
manded by General Dombrowski the other to
defend the interior Of Paris, commanded by
General La Cecilia. A despatch dated at
Havre yesterday announces the arrival at that
port Of fresh convoy Of French troops from
Germany. A revolutionary address was issued
by the workmen OF Havre favorable to the
Commune, but II did not occasion any dis
turbance. II has been ordered that the pro-
visioning Of Paris by way Of the Seine be
entirely stopped II is asserted at Versailles
that the strength of the Nationals is rapidly
decreasing from the effect of the incessant fire
maintained and the fatigues to which they are
subjected. The Frdncais says that the
troops of the Commune do not number over
twenty-five thousand men. The versaillists
are now attacking at all points simultaneously,
erection of additional barbados within the
city.
A despatch from Berlin of the 2Sth states
that General Cluseret has replied to the inter
cession of General Fabrice that he will exert
himself with the Commune to obtain the
release of the Archbishop of Paris and other
ecclesiastics now imprisoned. The insurgents
are reported to have attacked Les Moulini-
ceaux Pierre, Clamart and Chatillon, but
were repulsed with heavy loss. There Is
possibility that before long the Central Com
mittee will attempt to arrest the members
of the Commune. It was expected that
Fort dIssy would be stormed during the
night of the 2Sth, but rs the de-
spatches from Versailles make no men,
ton of it having been done, the attack
has probably been deferred. The Commune
is in need Of funds, and has made heavy re-
QUESTIONS upon the different railway compa-
MES of Paris, all of which have been responded
to, except in one case-the Western Company
aud this, 1t is said, will be seq restored. The
towns of Asnieres, Auteuil, Levallois. Fuilliers
and Neuilly are all in ruins, and when the de-
spatch was sent Bas Meudon was in flames. A
sharp cannonade was being carried on between
batteries at Meudon. The first instalmcnt of
the war indemnity has not been paid. The
money has been offered to the gov
eminent at eighty-six for six per cent
per aunum, but the offer was refused. NJ.
Theirs says that when the city falls he can
negotiate on terms more favorable to the gov
eminent. The fighting at Moulinicsaux is re-
ported to have been a most gallant affair on
the part of the government forces. The as
saulting column was composed of four hun
dred sailors, led by Duke Fitzjames aud his
son, lieutenant in the navy.
The attack has commenced in earnest A
simultaneous movement has been made along
the whole line of the government investing
force, and the fighting has been desperate and
bloody. We shall in all probababilty have to
record during the week series of the most
sanguinary fights that have ever occurred on
French soil. We have no evidence of any
thing else than the most determined resistance
on the part of the insurgents, and the govern
ment has given out its intention of listening to
nothing else and granting no other terms than
absolute submission to its power and authority.
1t is within the range of possibilities, OF
course, that at the last moment the Commune
may listen to reason and prevent the
terrible slaughter within the city that
is sure to occur when the government forces
establish themselves within the eaaceiate. That
body, which has done more to destroy France
than did the Germans, must know that 1t will
be almost impossible to restrain the troops OF
MacMahon it once within the city walls. Its
members may expect to witness the scenes Of
Badajoz and Ciudad Roderigo enacted over
again. All the horrors accompanying the
carrying Of beseged city by storm will be
witnessed in Paris If assault becomes the last
resort. Aud if there is any feeling Of com
passion for their suffering fellow citizens and
countrymen remaining within their breasts
they will take the only method whereby all
the horrors may be prevented, and surrender.
1t is hardly possible they will, however; for,
being desperate men and knowing their doom
in case of capture, they will probably prefer
to risk everything, and destroy Paris and al
within it rather than yield to the Irresistible
force of the government.