Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/125



be followed by that of a triple number of the hostages.
 * tisan of the regular Government of the Commune shall

"Art. 6. Every prisoner of war shall be sent before a jury of accusation, which shall decide whether he is to be set at liberty or kept as a hostage."

The Delegate of War also published the following report, addressed to the members of the Executive Commission:

": Since my entrance into the Department of War, I have sought to render an exact account of the military situation, the cause of the aggression, which nothing can justify, and its results.

"The motive seems to be, in the first place, to frighten the population; in the second, to cause us needlessly to waste our ammunition, and to mask a movement on the right for the purpose of occupying the forts on that side of the river.

"Up to this day, the culpable hopes of the enemy have been frustrated, and his attempts repulsed.

"The population has remained calm and dignified, and if our munitions have been wasted by some of our youngest soldiers, they acquire each day, in the practice of firing, the coolness and steadiness indispensable in war.

"As to the third it will depend more upon the Prussians than upon us; however we shall be on our guard.

"The active point of view may be summed up as follows: Excellent soldiers, with officers—some very good, others very bad. Much dash, but little firmness. When the war companies are formed, and separated from the sedentary element, we shall have a select body of troops of more than 100,000 men. I cannot too much recommend the National Guards to direct all their attention to the choice of their chiefs. At present, the respective positions of the two armies may be thus described: The Prussians of Versailles occupy the positions of their con