The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-18

them 1t was day altogether unlike the recent day
in the Place vendome, and they proved themselves
great adopts at showing their heels to armed men
as at numbering unarmed ones.
ON TO VERSAILLES.
For some time the National Guard has been trying
to up its courage for trip 10 Versailles. Per-
haps there was some tradition in the Central Com
mittee OF the success OF q trip to Versailles In
former revolution, and 1t promised itself repetition
OF that success. 1t hoped that the appearance Of
the National Guard would induce some regiment TO
put the butts Of its guns In the air, and tnot the
contagious example would In q moment strip the
here Of every soldier and that this fact
would make the Commune supreme In France.
With this end In view the National Guards
were pushed out on different roads, but they were
constantly sent to the right about BY the IRE OF the
gendarmes and By little rushes OF the cavalry.
Small affairs OF that sort have occurred several
times during the week, and there was lively one
at Nanterre on Friday. But In that direction they
pushed ont considerable force, and 1t became
obvious to the authorities here that something
more decisive must be done, for they were coming
too close to Versailles, and they were
SURROUNDING MONT vALERIKN.
On Saturday night the insurgents had eighteen
battalons on the same SIDE Of the river with Yer
sailles. They were posted in Puteaux, Courbevoie,
Suresnes, Nanterre and Rueil. Their only commun-
cation with Paris was by the Bridge
Of Courbevoc, which is on the Avenue de
Neuilly. an extension Of the Avenue des Champs
Elysees; Courbevoe is on the bank OF the Seine to
the north OF the bridges PuteauX on the bank of
the Seine TO the south OF the bridge, and Suresnes
also the bank Of the Sene sti further south than
Puteaux Nanterre and Rueil are three or four
miles beyond PuteauX, on the Imperial road to Yer
salles. In the two latter places were outposts and
the main force was at and behind Courbey0ie. At
Courbevoie 1t had fortified itself with parrlcadeS
covering the approaches to the caserne the place
recently occupied by q statue Of Napoleon. Here
were posted three battaions The caserne was occu-
was the resistance made by this regiment here ana
the battalions IN the place that constituted the
action OF the day.
TROOPS OF THE LINE, ARTILLERY, SAILORS AND
MARINES
had been moved on Saturday night from their can.
road. and to Montretoat just south Of vaerein, on
the Seine; and this force was moved forward at day.
gt On snnd "a ana n a. the
composed Of the brigade Of Daudel OF the division
Foron, and OF the brigade Bernard, OF division
Bruat Another brigade or this latter division was
In reserve. On the lett was the brigade OF chasseurs
Of General Gailet, ana on the right two squadrons
of the Republican Guard. All were under the tmme-
diate command Of General vinoy.
GENERAL GALLIFET,
tho hesSls NAT nyeroo ourbevoe nS nnder
cover OF his artillery the line was formed and ad
yanced upon Uourbeyole. It was formed t OF the
the best soldiers OF France-helng the greater num-
Der. This line advanced handsomely, and in sight
OF Its advance the insurgent force formed outside
the caserne and advanced in turn. At the same
moment the line OF sailors and marines was REIN
~ re from II The elH line Of he
Guard, which was vigorously returned and In the
midst Of this IRE company OF the National Guard
depending mainly on the old manusuvre, raised the
butts Of their guns in the air and called upon the
soldiers to do the same but they refused.
WRONG PROCEEDING.
With affairs In this position, however, there oc-
Cured parley, and DR.. Pasquler, surgeon-in-chef
to prevent bioodshed and cali upon the National
Guard 70 retire. lt seems inconcetvable that the
authorities should have permitted this, and should
have endeavOred to secure the retirement OF the
National Guard, except by force, when once It had
it fairly under dre outside OF Paris. 1t is said, in
this was not generally seen. However this may be-
the surgeon was kllled--murdcred by men who
fired at him within arms length, unable to restrain
their murderous instincts even IN respect to the
most humane purpose. This murder greatly excited
the soldiers. Under the influence OF this excitement
regiment OF the llne the Seventy fourth, was sent
STORM THE BARRIcADE
1t advanced with good Will, but did not keep its
VIII, and under lively, put not very effective fire
from the barrlcade and the windows 1t became
GERS, broke. 1t was mostly composed OF new troops.
But this error was soon corrected for the sailors
and as il they rather preferred sKirms1 re to no
fire at ALL The mere sight OF the will Of these lads
ended the resistance OF the Nationals ana the barrl
cade and the caserne were carried in the good old
measure or time that is stated In the sailors song
Before you could say Jack Robinson.
1t is but just TO say that the seventyfourth seeing
the good example or the blue Jackets rallied and
joined hands with them handsomely.
PANIC AMONG THE NATIONALS.
SO soon as the National Guards turned away their
and panic OF the widest sort. They threw away
everything and ran as the wild mustangs run before
the prairie fire. providing, trampling, crushing one
another down the descending road and over the
bridge and far up the Avenue de Neuily; and into
the rear OF the nying mass the soldiers fired, and
General GallifcL's artillery sent them some relnem-
brances that followed as lar as the gate Of Paris.
MANY PRISONERS
were TAKEN and among them were found six
soldiers or the line, who had been fighting among
the insurgents. They were killed as soon as taken.
Among the government troops no man was killed
on the place but the surgeon. About twenty five
the number of killed ana seriously wounded among
the National Guards Is about sixty.
Perhaps the principal importance of this AFFAIR is
in its moral effect IL Is now certain that the
French government has soldiers that VIII obey the
gents, and this point determined there is OF course
not the slightest doubt Of Its ability to put down the
haved well, the Chasseurs d'Arilque, the sailors and
the artillery making good use or their arms and IN
dlcatng not the least disposition to SPARE when
store the morale OF the whole military force and the
day has been very important one simply In virtue
government Is not corrupted by the spirit that dis.
graced the Eighty-elgnth regiment OF the line.
Tire Battle Of the Sd of April-What Might
Hnvo Been Accomplished - Determined
Fighting on Both Sides-The Rebels Driven
Back-The Killing Of FIourens.
VERSAILLES. April 3-Midnight.
This has been day Of scarcely interrupted fight
ing between the insurgents and the national forces;
O day OF battle tocrably well sustained, stubborn
even at some points, and bloody; and at its close,
although the regular troops have beaten those OF
Paris and have punished them severcly-it must be
conceded that they have not crushed them-have
not given them such veritaole coup de grace az a
numerous, well trained and well armed military
force might be expected to have given to an armed
mob trusting itself to The chances Of warfare outside
OF the city walls. And this Is simply due, on the
part of the government forces, to laundering and
the want OF provision or inevitable occurrences.