The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-29
EDITION
TROCHU'S DEFENSE.
The History OF September 4-Address Be-
fore the National Assembly.


known, were brought forth recently by General
Trochu is his account of the defense of Paris.
After referring TO the accomplishment by the
Prussians of the turning movement, which he
dreaded and anticipated, General Trochu said:-
"The following day, August II, the Emperor sum-
moned the generals to conference, which at
tendeo: AND mere begins an unknown chapter In
sary to say that will not mention single fact for
which have not living witnesses or written proofs
There were present at that conference the Emperor
Prince Napoleon, Marshal MacMahon, General Ber-
tault dn command of the Mobiles of the Sene),
General Schmiz Chief of the staff of the 10Th Corps)
and myself. l think that while the conference was
In progress, General de Courson (prefet du Palais)
4 came into the room and remained. The Emperor
asked this little council Of what they Thought OF
the state OF affairs, and what was the best thing to
be done. Unanimously, and through the channel of
Prince Napoleon, whe spoke first with the
greatest nrmness, and also through me, the
terms THE Emperor has abandoned the Govern
ment by going to take command OF the army at such
distance; his majesty has just abandoned the
command OF the army and given it to Marshal Ba-
zaine. He is alone at the Camp OF Chalons without
Grnment and the command. Unless his Majesty
Rsnes to abdcate altogether he is bound TO resume
either the Government or the command Of the
army. His Majesty acknowledged that this state
ment was in conformity with facts. The council
&added that it did not think 1t possible for the
Emperor to resume the command OF the army,
and therefore that the only course was to resume
with al firm M, hand and the the rens Of government
Prince Napoleon added that, in order that the En-
peror should resume the reins of pswer in safety his
tntenton should be notified to the Partisan popua-
3{tion by general officer who should precede him
land take military and moral precautions to prepare
the public for his Majesty arrival Turning towards
time the Emperor asked me would undertake that
emission. i replted-"Sire in the situation so full
ton would hurl it into the abyss All that can be
done to avoid revolution will do. You ask me to
go TO Paris to announce your ARRIVAL and to take the
command-in-chef. will do all that, but on the
clear understanding that the army of Marshal
for we are sure to be besieged' The Emperor &C,
quiesced. Marshal MacMahon had previously de-
to fuai. This conference broke mp at iiaO, after
agreeing to kind OF convention couched in these
nG TrGSn appointed ted Of
start for Paris he will precede the Emperor by
Few hours. Marshal MacMahon Will march on Paris
"That night conference.-the night from the 18th to
the 1sthI arrived athe Tuieres, and waited on the
Empress Regent found her full of hrmness, full
Of courage, but excited, and distrustiDg me- (Sensa
tion.) General said her Msjesty-I quote her
words textually-'only the Emperor's enemies could
have urged ON him this return to Paris lie would
not reach the Tuilerles alive Madam replied,
Prince Napoleon Marshal MacMahon, and all the
Generals who took part in the conference at Cha
lons contributed to the of the Emperor
as an act OF 1rmness and manhood, calculated to
prevent q revolution ! have accepted the
certainly my precedents did not enable me to
foresee, to come and notify the Emperor's return
MacM @ a6on IS Tarching en- the Capital and govern
ment of defense is about to be formed to save the
tseIf NO. General S the Emperor I5e or shall not come
Ito Paris; he will remain at Chalons.' But then,
here is no ged The Emperor me
to defend him, and he does not follow me-! you
will defend Paris fulfil your mission without the
Emperor And, in fact, gentlemen, had long
felt an ardent desire to defend Paris. ,was
determined to shrink from no sacrince to do so;
defend Paris without the kmperor; 1 have
brought with me the proclamation in which desire
been appointed Governor and Commander-n-
Chief during the siege. That proclamation begins
country, the Emperor has appointed me Governor
Of the capital IN state 81 siege ~, The Empress
name must not appear in a proclamation at a time
Ike this But & Madame A represent @ % the S,I Emperor.
nos address the population of Paris without refer
ring to the Emperor, and saying that 1t Is by his
state Of the public mind there would be serious oo-
jectlons to allow this reference to the Emperor The
'In the morning went to the Tuieres saw
q the Empress Regent surrounded by many anxious
\ dressed to her these few Words MADAME, tAe
hour OF great dangers has arrived. Strange things
Grimm alton. remain at my post, but be assured
that the crisis is serious one, and what said at
the Council the other day will prove strictly true.
81 reoev ed neither from the War once nor the
LSuileries any order, news or notice OF any kind
About one O'Clock in the afternoon saw General
Lebreton, the q1esteur of the Corps Legisatif.
! see him here, and he can correct me II my memory
] proves Q6Celt1uI lie J0lQ mo:-IjeQera the perl
is at its height; there is tremendous crowd on the
quay about to break into the house-the troops have
allowed the mob to break through their lines. You
alone, by personal effort may perhaps stave the
danger on / replied, General, / am the victim Of
II an Unprecedented situation In fact, have no com
mand did not order the troops you mention to be
posted where they were Here, gentlemen, l beg
TO say that am thoroughly convinced tnat II 1 had
been in command the case would have been pre-
cisely the same. (Applause) mean to say that
was the victim OF a combination, which has gver
rise TO the abominabe rumors that have been IL
circulation about me, and which / should scorn tC
notice save before my real judges-that is, th!
i Assembly. (Appause.) But to proceed. l told
! Il General Lebreton, Look here, General, you wan
me single handed to stop the advance OF half mil
l lion Of men who are surgng up towards the Assem-
bly,; and yet you must know as well as that it can
not be done but as you make the demand In thu
name OF the Corps Legslatif, l viii attempt thu
effort, though am well assured OF its failure Th
Hotel de Vile Itself was lled with so dense croWC
that 1t was only by devious ways that was able Il
reach closet, abeut four times the size of this tri
bune, in which the Provisional Government hat
\ stationed itself by the light OF solitary lamp.
didn't know whether the men saw there for tn
first time-with the exception OF NJ. Jules Favre
whom l had seen during the day-were reall
usurpers, vultures soaring down on power as prey
but they did not look like it. felt that they and
were exposed to great peril. One OF them SAID
General, in this formidable crisis we are especial
N anxious that the Government should not fall int
the hands OF the people In the next room. (SensG
tion) Just now, taken aback by the suddenness
events, they are assembled, but they are not "
armed but they Will be tomorrow. II you conseI
to be Minister OF War of the Provisional GovernmeI
to morrow, the on1cers and soldiers In Paris WI
gather round your name, ana there Will be som
means OF enforcing the measures that must be take
for the preservation of order In Paris l replie
Before making up my mind 1t is my duty TO
to the War Once and acquaint the Ministe
and found eneral Palikao In his once prey TO
tense griefs he thought that his son eley
young onieer had been klied at Sedan. On n
sC3eneTalS he said, the revolution Is Jdit