Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/188

 to come forward and assert his position manfully. After relating several incidents in Pyat's conduct in latter times, the writer said, "Your game is easily divined; you were, on the one hand, endeavoring to preserve your popularity, in case the people should prove victorious; and, on the other, you reserved to yourself a back-door by which to escape prosecution, should Versailles have the superiority."

The letter terminated by declaring that the writer would not abuse his advantage so far as to defy his adversary to place himself at the head of the tenth legion the first time that it went out to fight, but challenged him to appear before a meeting of electors. Pyat, in consequence of the pressure brought to bear upon him, determined to keep his seat.

The following official circular was addressed to the Prefects of the various departments in France:

", April 26, 2:50

"Active operations were commenced yesterday. Three great lines of batteries opened their fire against Forts Vanves and Issy. The line on the right, having to bear the fire of both Vanves and of Issy, sustained the loss of some lives and some injury to embrasures, but its continuous working was not affected. The line of the centre, which mounted seventeen guns of heavy calibre, had no wounded nor any of its pieces injured, and maintained a formidable cannonade against Fort Issy. From midday its fire assumed a marked superiority over that of Fort Issy, which at five o'clock ceased to send in return more than a few shots at rare intervals. On the left the action was less warm on both sides. The main contest rested with the centre line, and there was every reason to believe that Fort Issy would soon be reduced to silence and rendered powerless. It is for the moment an artillery com