The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-16


to Excite Civil War, Raising Armed Troops,
Commanding Armed Bands and Bearing
Arms Against France.
The following is the offlcal report OF the inquiries
made into the of Rossel, the ex-Delegate for
War under the Commune:-
Captain Rossel, OF the engineers, was attached to
the military stan at Metz during the war against
Prussia. de effected mis- escape In disguise On the
very day the Prussians entered and passing by Bel
GUM and England, proceeded to Tours where ne
found NJ. Gambetta Being Entrusted by him with q
mission to the north OF France. In order ascer.
tam the amount OF military force ana means of de-
fence TO be found there, he was upon his return,
early in December, appointed an auxiliary colonel
and directing engineer OF the camp at Nevers. lie
Paris insurreoton broke out Despatch published
in the newspapers informed him that the govern
ment had Quilted Paris aud that the city was In the
power OF the lnSurrectlOD. Upon this NJ.
Rossel did not hesitate. he wrote Immediately
to tho Minister of War at Versailles, announc-
ing that he had determined upon abandoning hls
post and coming 10 Paris TO offer mis- services the
insurrecuon. NJ. Rossel fully admits the letter,
av0ws that IN writing he perfectly understood the
serious step he as soldier, was taking and that IN
SO dong he yielded to no Interior influence. He
hand, that the government intended TO defend ITSELF
and on the other hand considering the importance or
the nsurrectionary movement. which constituted,
IN TACT, the commencement or civil war, he imme-
dately ranged himself on the side of the reDes.
Upon his arrival in Paris he at placed himself
tee OF the Seventeenth Advertisements presented by
them by them to The Central Committee at the Hotel
legion Of the Seventeenth arronaIssemens. H s
zeal established discipline in the legion, but
the Committee OF OF the Acknowledgement being dissat
through the efforts OF one of his officers ne was
selected by Sleur Cluseret, the Delegate for War;
pied that post up 70 April 20. Al that period
he rendered his resignation, which was &C
his services up to the last day OF the month.
On April 80 NJ. Rossei was Professionally appointed
s as op war; Ss
been charged by the Presidency Of the Court Mar
tlsl. That court instituted by the Commune on
April is. was established especially for the sum-
mary trial OF citizens who refused to march against
the French army. The cnief penaltles niictcd
The penalty OF death was especially OF frequent
iDnlction. The President made himself remarkable
continued to devote to the service of the Commune
down TO the 10th OF May with interchangeable con.
staney IL Vas doubtless o. that zeal which caused
which he was entrusted on the 30th Of April. The
first orders issued under his command and signed
BY him were published In the Journal OUciei OF
the commune IN It's impression OF the lst OF May;
they related TO officers OF the stan and to the cen.
Every day up to the 9th of May there appeared
fresh orders and DEGREES signed by the Delegate for
WAS assea by ommsso o II hossel
nofd Avrla Delescluze, Vridon and varIin, who
were entrusted with the details q the once but ali
initiative was left TO him. On the 10Th of Nav the
Commune decreed the arrest Of NJ. Rossel. Tie
found an opportunity TO escape in company with
moment OF his final arrest by the legal police
the eth OF June. Disguised as a foreman OF
with him a letter, addressed to one Tirebois, a
foreman in the service OF the runway company,
establish false identity. Being recognized by
many witnesses he at last avowed his name and
rank Captain Rossel, by successfully accepting the
Of the Court Martial and OF Delegate Tor
War, has voluntarily performed military service
nized 1t as q government by becoming Min.
lister. All his orders Issued in perfect agreement
with the Commune were executed During his stay
at the Ministry he specially directed the military OPP
erations against the army OF the regular govern
ment without being member Of the Commune he
to render i: victorious, and, by assuming
the military authority with which it invested
acts committed by the chiefs OF the armed
bands OF the insorrection. His arrest the 10th
his culpabillty. HIS excessive zeal and activity and
the suspicious OF members Of the Commune, ac-
for that As he himself admits no foreign
accepts entire personal responsibility; and yet.
mis- position as a soldier. and
not moments hesitation In bearing arms against
France In presence OF these facts our opinion is
that Louis Nathaniel Rossel, captain OF engineers
should be tried before court martial upon charges
First OF desertion at home; second of having taken
part In an attempt having for It's objects to change
The form OF government to excite civn war 10y arm.
Ing citizens against each other; third. Of having
gagged and enrolled, caused to pe engaged and en-.
rolled soldiers having provided and procured arms
and ammunition without the orders OF the
legitimate authorities; fourth, OF having taken
the command OF armed bands directed
them In their attack upon and resist
ance TO the public force acting against those bands
which invaded for purposes OF pIilage and devasta-
ton lands, fortresses, magazines, post Offices,
arsenals and public buildings; Nth, OF having thus
as soldier, borne arms against France. Crimes set
forth aud punishable under articles 23l, 233 2O4 and
20S OF the Military Code OF Justice anu articles 81
e2, 60 and % or the ordinary penal code.
The personal description OF Rossel is thus given
Nathaniel Rossel, born September Q, lst4, at st.
Brieuc (Nordj. lie studied at the Ecole Polytech-
nique, where he attained the grade OF sous-lieuten
ant In October 1864 On the LIST OF February 1867
ne was appointed asub.lleuenant in the second regi
ment OF Engineers, being attached 10 the company
Of miners. lie became full lieutenant on the 30th
Of December, 1867 and was stationed at Metz and
n ontpeilier. Promoted to the rank or captain he
served at Bourges and Metz from which latter place
ne escaped on october DO 1870, and became COM
mander OF the engineering staff at the camp OF