The New York herald., 1878-09-11

"Was not Hanser q prominent loader OF the Com
asked the reporter alter the perusa OIL these
ssHe was not known at Paris" replied Megy. "He
never was member Of the Commune. He did belong
to the Central Committee. but he never did anything
ana has no record . revoiutionist During the EN-
pirs, all the good republicans protested, no ono
"was no. the Central Committee at one time the
revolutionary govsrnmcntf'
not then belong to II. THIS Central Committee never
did anything bus protest against acts OF the Com
mune, with which II did not agree. IL was always
d rag and cmbarrassmont.'
THE BIRTH OF coxMuxE.
s.How did Il como into existencoY'
alt was organized during the siege OF Paris TO watch
ever the Interests OF the Republic. IL was composed
OF delegates IRON tho batlaions OF the National
Guard wuiio the Trocbu government was 10 power,
but IL never did anything Whom NJ. Thicrs made his
cosp dStaL toe 18th vi March, might have saved
the Republic but 1t had the courage TO grappie
WITH events BY the fail OF Trochu Il ,catne reaii
the government but did not dare 10 accept the rec
sponsbility OF action THEIRS coup dat on the 18Th,
was really surprise for the people In the night tho
soldiers under Thomas and Lecomte were sent
to selzo the guns at Montmartre, but when
battaisns Of tho National Guari marched 10 Mont
martro to reoapture the position. Tho Central Com
iee dsvowea ns IGSn as o. ,e @ s ~ncn
Committee issued the call for the election o. the Com
muns 70 take charge OF .n: s. government Tho CON-
EXECUTED By THEIR owy soLDirns.
"wby did the Communists snoot Generals Thomas
and LecOmtef'
..rue Communists did not shoot them--that is ono
OF the lies circulated about Us. Generals Clement,
Thomas aud Lccomte were shot By tneir own sold ers
IL was the soldiers OF the Eighty eghtn regiment OF
tho line shot thcni-the very soldiers tncy led 10 at
tack the people,"
''Ihat Is n new version oil the killing Why did thor
own soldiers shoot them"
Tins Is how IT happened. Thomas and Lecomte
so,z. the cannon This they did occupying the Mala.
kon Tower THIS was no fortihcauon but only Kind
Of on % @ ~. popc 80 70 &c,
movement was intondsd to be hostile 20 tho people
they refused " act and when the battaiions o the
National Guard advanced 10 rccapurc the cannon the
soldiers refused to nrs Thomas and Lecomtc had
with them q number OF gcndsrmes disguised 10
NATIONAL guardsmon. These mon arrested The leaders
Malsxon Tower Thomas and Jecom,e stated
that soon as tho attack was repuiscd
drumhead court martial and shot But, notwith-
saBding these measures. the soldiers would no, tight
that only low days before they had been lighting
gsther against the Prussiaus"
''rhe gondarmes fired on the National Guard, but
werc soon overpowcrcd and made prisoners, as we'll
as Generals Thomas and Lecomte Then tho soldiers
OF tho regiment. VINO had been threat
encd with death Tor refusing TO nre on tho people,
formed a court martial, and Thomas aud Lccom,c
were found guilty OF treason N trying TO overthrow
the Republic, aud were shot by their own soldiers
That the true history OF the shooting OF the two
generals.
"rhis was tho real beginning OF the Commune. The
Central Committee had nothing 10 do with the popu.
lar uprising, which was spontaneous and Thomas and
rms uprising was the rst revolutionary act 1t was
a rising against tno government, but against the
coup d's,dt OF NJ. Theirs. Tho Central COM
protested against this act They declared themselves
potent 10 take charge oi tho government and
called or the election oil the Commune, which tool
place on March 20. When this election accom
pisbed the Central Committee should have retired
bat tboy continued 10 act SO there were really two
governmental
uAEsBN's ELECTION.
"rhe Central Comm,ttec, however, never took any
decisive action except to protest against acts by th
Commu nc which did not nappeu 70 suit them. Abou
twothirds OF the old Central Committeo electc,
ON the Commune aud Others instead Of dissovin,
1nsa up the vacancies with new men Hanser Wal