The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-20

Tho Civil wsr In Trancc-Our Latest
Dispatches from Paris and Versailles.
The special dispatches to the HERALD from
Paris, which we give to-day, present mourn
full picture Of the condition to which the city
and the country Immediately surrounding 1t,
have been reduced. The fight at Asnieres on
the 18th inst. was most disastrous to the
broke and retreated from the battle field cry
ing out call is lost" The people charged
them with cowardice. and soon there was
fight between the civil and military adherents
of the Commune. The most terrible scenes
are reported within the city. AT the
time the despatch was sent the Ma
tionals who had retreated into Paris
were Keeling about drunk and utterly de-
morallzed, while the wounded and dying were
lying In the streets unassisted and uncared
the disaster was intense. Shells from the
government batteries have fallen on the
Faubourg St. Honore and in the Rue des
Ternes. A very severe fight has been going
on at Neuilly, and at last accounts the Ma
tionals, in large numbers, were retreating
into Paris. Many houses in Neuilly have
been destroyed, and those Of the inhabitants
who had taken refuge in the cellars persisted,
being unable to extricate themselves. The in
habtants Of Neuilly endeavored to procure an
armistice to remove the women and children,
but this was refused by General Cluseret.
The above is a sketch of the late OCCUR
rences outside and inside Of Paris, and to
those familiar with the localities the descrip-
ton is most mournful one. For all the
destruction Of property, for all the loss Of life,
all the suffering and misery occasioned by the
recent military operations the red republicans
are responsible. But . heavy reckoning is at
hand and for those 50 guilty, those whose
hands are deeply dyed with the blood Of
their fellow countrymen and who have created
the anarchy that now regns in Paris. no
punishment can be too severe. Gaze upon the
ruin made within one of the most beautiful
cities Of the world, buildings, public and
private, torn to pieces by shot and shell!
Look upon the crowds of drunken soldiery
driven within the walls, defeated and dis
graced. their wounded and dying comrades
lying about the streets, left to care for them
selves. Watch the crowds Of inhabitants
fleeing from their homes and seeking safety
away from the murierous warfare by which
they have so long been surrounded, and then
turn to those who still persist in adding to the
horrors by which oil Paris is encircled, and
say what their fate should be. Compromise
with such beings is impossible. The govern
ment cannot be merciful to such fends; they
must be hunted down and destroyed, even if
the ruin and desolation commenced is carried
to the end-even if Paris is rendered an un-
shapely mass of mortar and masonry.
The desperate encounters at Asnieres and
at Neuily, in which the Communists have
been defeated, fully establish the power Of the
government. 1t is the intention Of Marshal
MaeMahon to gain possession Of and hold
every point outside the city. He viii drive
the rebel forces within the walls and keep
them there, and when once Gagged effectually
starvation will be tried rather than powder
and shell; but if that Is found to fail, then
UOmuoIumcut uuu uSSnult Will lOllOW, buu
the result may be imagined. Witness the
scenes at Neuilly during the fight and
Smelling Of that town. OF course all
these horrors are incident to war and can
not sometimes be avoided; but such war, in
augurated upon so slight pretext carried on
by members Of one family with bitterness
unparalleled even in the late hostilities with
Germany! And yet 1t must 60 on; the gov
eminent must be sustained, no matter what
the sacrifice may be, no matter how many
innocent lives are lost or how much property
destroyed. The people must be made to feel
its power, its ability to protect or punish, OF
else We may expect to see constant recur-
renee of scenes similar to those above de.
soribed. ....