The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-12
THE PARIS REDS.
A Herald Correspondent With The
Leaders of the Commune.
DINNER AT TEE PLACE VENDOtIE.
Mutiny OF the Guards i'm the
Barrica(les.
THE MEN WHO DEFY FRANCE.
Who and What They Are and
What They Look Like.
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE COMMUNE.
The Negotiations Which Were Opened
With the Russians.
~-~0-0~~~~~~~~~-~~~~-~~~-o~
GAMBETTA, HlG0 AND LOUIS BLANC.
Preparations to Repel the Expected Attack
Of the ReactiOnSts.
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE COMMUNE.
The Negotiations Which Were Opened
With the Russians.
GAMBETTA, HUGO AND LOUIS BLANC.
Preparations to Repel the Expected Attack
Of the ReaciiOniStS.
WINDOWS BRISTLING WITH CANNON.

l was invited 10 dine with the Commander In the
Place Vend0me and went at six. l should explain
that this officer Is the commander OF the National
Guard for Paris appointed by the Committee. at the
Hotel de yille His headquarters are in the large
public building which forms the east face Of the
Place Vendome. was received in large room on
the ground moor, the windows OF which look upon
the square, The General was away at the moment
but his chief Of star did the honors end was soon
at my ease, with leisure TO survey the extempOrizcd
Official world about me. Naturally my curiosity was
most turned to the men coming and going with
quiet actvitythe officers and leaders OF the move
ment. Sinister looking fellows were many OF the
men saw; bus 1t was twilight and tile gloom OF the
hour may have lent q shadow to faces that would
have been fair and frank enough IN the daylight 1t
was, moreover, the fifth day OF the movement, and
the circumstances in which they stood were not
favorable to regular toilet The only notable point
In the furniture OF the room was large and beaut
full bust OF Liberty before mirror between the two
windows. There we're, therefore, two Liberties,
substance and shadow. and could not but Won
der which would prove the type OF that my friends
were struggling for.
ALL TIE MEN I SAW
there were workmen, men Of mechanical occupa-
tons, and learned subsequently that this Is boast
and pride OF the leaders-that they are oil from the
ranks Of the great working day world Of humanity.
The chief OF stan was man, should judge OF Wat
Tyler's trade-a man OF sturdy lineanents, who mad
been developed by bodily labor rather than inteec
tual exercise-an honest, straightforward, earnest
sort oil man, without any Of the elements ot man
hood tinged 10y the reclining touch Of study
ARRIVAL OF SCOUT.
While waited n scout came In to report thai the
authorities, ''reactionists" they were called were
making preparations to defend the bank. lie was
sent in TO report to the Generals secretary. Pre-
senuy came In report OF quite another character
that the men In one OF the barbados were 10 o
state OF
MUTINY.
They had been on duty all day and haa mad nothing
10 eat and now that 1T was dark they wanted to go
home.
"Cannot the officer keep them until he Is re.
lievedt"
"The captain Is as bad as the men, and Is going
too.n
"Send that captain to me-" And the messenger
was or on the instant
An inquiry came next from the National Guards
who wanted to know where and how they should
get good tobacco.
THE TOBACCO HUNTERS
'Send them upm And in few minutes the two
tobacco hunters came. They had come from the
country, had been here three or four days. on duty
most OF the time and out of money and had
tobacco. What should they dor
'well, my brave men, l do not know whether the
government undertakes to furnish tobacco or not
don't think 1t does; but will send you to the
Quartermaster department aud you can see. II it
does not, you, of course, viii know how to undergo
the privation for a few days when you remember
what 1t is for. II we succeed now we establish the
republic forever aud there VIII be no more wars,
no more fighting, no more suffering"
The men said they were willing to undergo any.
thing and intended to fight to the last breath II
necessary, but that II there was any tobacco to he
had they would like to have some all the same, and
went out In search of the Quartermaster.
1t was now seven O'Clock. The lamps were lit,
and still the General had not come. Several de.
spatches had been received requiring immediate
answers ana which the chief or star did not wish
TO take the responsibility of answering He showed
me one from some general Il could not make out
the name) who said he was about
MAKING AN ATTACK
upon the Marie Of the Second reimbursement. wish.
my 20 know II General Bergcret approved it, and II
he couid count upon his assistance in case Of need
lie would await an answer on the Pont Royal.
MORE REPORTS or MUrINY.
More OF the men III the barbados were reported
20 be In state oi mltny or discontent. They were
being cut on on the east side by the reactlonsis,
who had placed patrols IN all the streets upon that
Side allowing 10 one To pass aud the chief OF stan
ana tne Generals secretary were getting excited
were ON Tue point oil decisive STEP
Nhen General Bergeret arrived and commenced
signing dispatches aad sondug OF messengers IN u
way that looGed like business.
A PRISONER.
] was conducted Into another room where there
were three or four Officers. OF whom was sIting
al q table his head leaning upon his hand. the
others siandlng around, all silent. dld not OBJ
serve anything particular IN their appearance at
hist but after a lew minutes | came 10 the conclu
sion mat the one at the table was u prisoner. NV
suImises proved 10 be correct. In about hall an
hour the General came In followed by several ofii-
GERS ana formed ring about the man al the table,
VINO wore the UNIFORM OF a captain OF the National
Guards. Inc General told HIM he was sorry TO
trouble MIN; mat ne had no doubt he could prove
nnseu innocent, lut that several persons mad told
MN nc Was TREND or DfAureilc de paadines and Il
SPY. Inc captain seemed considerably astonished
ana somewhat embarrassed; said he did not know
nOW any one coula have imagined such a thing as
mat MS battalion being under The Generals own
command, and oDeying his orders promptly.
"Nevcrtheless," said the General, ~ nave never
seen you before DO not know you, and would
Ike you to show ne "a simple word or line from the
central Committee
The Captain said he could not do that but that if
they would SEND MN under guard 10 one or Two
men ne named, known TO the General, they would
Identity him.
"Why did you come here TO get the counterslgn,r
asked The General.
~ was going home and thought II might keep me
Out OF uilicuitJ Ia case was stopped
- mink " very strange" SAID the General, 'fhat
an onicer should come mere 10 got the countcrsixn
WITHOUT bciug known, ana with no paper about hin
TO prove his Identity see If you have no papcr--a
line, word, any thing for this purpose"
The Captain looked, but could ony snow his COM
MISSION issued some months ago, showing he was
captain Of the Tooth battalion OF The National Guards
which ala not In the least tend 10 aay the sus-
plcions that were gathering around him. Tue Gen
eral told him he would ecnd letter 10 the inen nc
'had spoken or and asked him II he had any 0Dec.
asked u they CO uld not send him under guar 10 ms
own house, where they would lnd papers thai would
prove nus innocence. lie remarked that the reason
"a LA mn xn lll.t a