Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/217

 The official journal of May 2d announced the astounding intelligence that General Cluseret had been arrested by order of the Executive Committee, and approved by the Commune. The following was the official announcement:

", May 1, 1871.

"The negligence and want of precaution shown by the Delegate of the War Department having very nearly compromised our possession of Fort Issy, the Executive Committee determined to propose to the Commune the arrest of Citizen Cluseret. The arrest has been decreed.

"The Commune, in addition, has taken all the measures necessary for maintaining its possession of that stronghold."

General Cluseret was thus dismissed from his command; and that was not all—his arrest was ordered by the Executive Committee and approved of by the Commune. But there was still something more. The public was informed that steps had been taken to appoint some one else in his place, and that measures of security had been adopted. That word gave rise to the wildest suppositions. Measures of security did not mean warlike preparations against an assault, but simple precautions against treason.

Many supposed it was Cluseret's intention to betray the Commune; but the real fact no doubt was that the recent failure at Issy demanded a victim, and that that victim should be the Minister of War. On the night of the 30th, when the fort was on the point of surrendering, Mégy, the commandant, was desirous of leaving the mass of ruins to its fate; but General Wroblewski appeared upon the scene in time to relieve Mégy of his command. He was exasperated at what he called an act of treachery, and threatened to resign his command if the important ground of Issy was not confided to trusty hands.