Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/270

 public opinion. Nothing could be more just than that this old fugitive should see his house fall by such an order, since he has the infamy to knock down ours with his bombshells. We may add that the resolution taken by the Government of Paris will open a new horizon to that chief of bombarders, at the same time that it relieves him from a great weight. The perverse beings who at present compose the population of Paris, in perceiving that hitherto not one projectile has arrived at the Place Saint George, began to suppose that this ferocious but economical inhabitant of Versailles was thinking more especially of sparing his own dwelling."

The official journal of the Commune announced that Citizen Billioray was elected member of the Committee of Public Safety, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Delescluze Delegate of War. The last named citizen proposed to the Commune to place the 128th battalion of the National Guard on the order of the day for gallant conduct, in clearing, under the direction of General Dombrowski, during the night, the park of Sablonville of a party of Versailles troops.

General Bergeret again appeared on the scene, and was ordered by the Commune to place 20,000 earth-sacks at the disposal of Colonel Henry. The latter was ordered to place thirty large mortars on bastions 59, 60, 61 and 62, to bombard Neuilly and Boulogne.

The Commune also received the following letter:

"May 13, '71.

":—The troops quartered at the village of Issy quitted their positions yesterday during my absence in Paris on an order from the Minister of War, and returned to their homes. As this fact is the result of a succession of causes all more or less connected, and concerning which the public ought to be instructed, I demand to be placed