The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-18
Versailles and Paris-The Conflict An.
preaching q Crisis.

A"iiS w Aoe Piccont any HoScidcS VI impoI
tant changes in the positions of the opposing
forces. The fighting continues, and the result
Is that the government troops continue to hold
their own, which is, probably, all that Marshal
MacMahon desires to accomplish at present.
He has occupied the Prussian trenches at
Meudon and has placed therein sixteen siege
guns, which command Forts d'Issy and Van
vres, and he has also succeeded In surround
ing the insurgent forces at Asnieres with a
strong body Of his army. From the nature Of
these operations it will be seen that he bides
his time and awaits patiently the hour to arrive
when the great movement along his entire line,
for which he is now preparing, will seal the
fate of the red rebellion That this is the
present programme is further confirmed by the
circular Of M. Theirs, issued on the evening
of the 10th inst, in which he says 1.-THE
Paris insurgents are emptying their houses and
selling their furniture. The government con-
tnues to temporize for the purpose OF collect
ing an Irresistible force and also to allow the
Parisians time to reflect. The insurgents say
we shoot prisoners, and intend to overthrow the
republic and to suppress the subsidies of the
National Guards. These statements are false.
There was some cannonading to-day, but it
was without result. Otherwise military affairs
are quiet and nothing Of interest has occurred"
The policy of the Theirs government is the
proper one. 1t is confident of its strength,
but wishes to make its power irresisti-
BILE. It can wait until this end is
accomplished. 1t has the insurgents
in position from which they cannot escape,
and is willing to temporize with them and
give them further time to reflect, believing
that they will yet be brought to their senses
and be made to see how terribly they have
been misled by their mad and INSCRIPTIONS
rulers. To such degree the government can
afford to be lenent, but it can do no more,
and it is very evident that it will not. NJ.
Theirs does not wish to destroy Paris if it can
be avoided, neither does he wish to harm the
thousands of innocent people that are within
the city hence he is disposed to postpone the
terrible blow until the last moment, and his
efforts will not fail TO be apprecia ted by the
right-thinkiug people of France, who
fully understand the situation and see
that the safety and future prosperity Of
their country depend upon the sue
cess of the legitimate government
and the overthrow of the revolutionists. The
period is rapidly approaching when this event
will take place and when the insurgents are
overthrown and their leaders are punished
with the utmost severity we may hope for a
new era of peace and prosperity to distracted
France.
That the conflict is rapidly reaching crisis,
that the end of tho aghting is near at hand. we
Judge from the fact that the German forces in
the vicinity Of Paris are being heavily rein
forced and are taking up positions nearer the
city. This movement is doubtless for the pur-
pose of aiding MacMahon in the assault upon
tie insurgent lines, should that be found
necessary. It is the intention Of the German
commander, under the instructions of his
government to see that Paris does not much
longer remain in the hands of the mob.
He will wait until MacMahon considers
himself strong enough, and receives his final
orders to take possession of the city, and then,
when the move is made, there will be wit
messed the singular spectacle Of Frenchmen
against Frenchmen, the soldiers of the repub-
lie opposed to the armed mob of the rebellion,
the former being supported by an army Of
ter enemies. Is there a possibility Of this
calamity being averted9 Is there chance OF
the government not being compelled to resort
to this terrible alternative? We confess that
as matters stand at present there is not. Mad
ness appears to rule the hour in Paris-to
have taken complete possession of those who
must see that their cause is hopeless, that
further resistance must only result in their
own humiliation and the utter destruction
almost Of what has cost so much time and
money to bring to Its present state of perfec-
ton. Reason with them appears to have de-
serted its throne, and, with reason gone, what
hope remains for pacific solution of the diff
cultyp
WHO would have believed, only one short
year ago, that such scenes would have been
enacted in and around Paris in less than
twelvemonth? Who would have thought it
possible that la belle France would have been
SO thoroughly humbled by foreign foe, and SO
thoroughly disgraced by her own people in SO
short period? Truly time, and a very little
time often works wonderful changes; but we
doubt if in history parallel case is recorded
of country and people standing at the very
pinnacle of greatness being SO suddenly hurled
into the dust and SO completely demoralzed.
The civilized world stands aghast at the
picture now presented in Paris, and it wonders
what the end is TO be. We can but hope that
good may yet come out of so much that is evil;
that the ordeal through which France is now
passing may be in the end her salvation, and
that, the legitimate authority being once more