Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/120

 concluded by announcing that any officer who added embellishments to the regulation dress, should be sent before a council of discipline. He also issued the following decree:

"Considering that the grade of General is incompatible with the democratic organization of the National Guard, and can only be temporary, the members of the Commune decree as follows:

"Art. 1. The rank of General is suppressed.

"Art. 2. Citizen Ladislas Dombrowski, commandant of the 12th legion, is appointed commander of the garrison of Paris, in the place of Citizen Bergeret, summoned to other functions."

On the 4th of April, the day following the combined movement for the capture of Versailles, numerous fresh battalions were sent out to reinforce those which had been dispersed by the panic, and the struggle recommenced, but without being more fortunate. Notwithstanding an obstinate resistance, the insurgents were obliged to give way in every direction.

Fourteen pieces of cannon placed in battery at Issy, and protected by earthworks thrown up during the night, opened fire upon the heights of Chatillon, and were answered by a strong battery on the terrace of Meudon. At four in the afternoon considerable reinforcements having arrived from Belleville, a strong attack was made on Chatillon, but unsuccessfully. The fort of Vanves kept up a vigorous fire during the rest of the day. Towards night the insurgents brought in a mitrailleuse, which they had captured, but left 250 men in the hands of the Versailles troops, in addition to the commandants of the 127th and 104th battalions. Their loss in killed was about one hundred.

No other military operations took place with the exception of those on the side of Clamart and Meudon.