Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/276

 firing on the evening of the 13th, and continued until four o'clock next morning, keeping the population in that district in the greatest state of alarm. The aim there seems to have been very bad, as many of the shells, instead of reaching the Chateau de Bécon and Gennevilliers, at which points they were aimed, fell at Clichy, and other places occupied by the insurgents, who suffered many casualties from their own men. The railway station at Asnières was also burnt by the insurgent shells.

The following is the official announcement of the affair of the 12th:

", May 13, 4:30.

"While our troops undertook, in the Bois-de-Boulogne, to open trenches of great length, and the formidable artillery of Montretout protected the works of approach, the 2d corps (General Cissey) accomplished, on the side of Issy, a most brilliant feat of arms.

"Yesterday, at noon, the soldiers of General Osmont occupied the houses situated at the point where the strategical road meets that from Chatillon to Montrouge. This operation, which was executed by a body of marines, a company of the 4th battalion of foot-chasseurs, and a detachment of the 113th regiment of the line, had for result to cut off all communication between the forts of Vânves and Montrouge.

"A few hours later, Commandant de Pontécoulant, with a battalion of the 46th of the line (brigade Bocher), carried with the bayonet the Convent-des-Oiseaux at Issy.

"In that attack, executed in the most admirable manner, the men displayed wonderful dash and spirit. The losses of the enemy are considerable. We took eight pieces of cannon, several flags, and some prisoners.

"After that affair, the insurgents, comprehending that they could not any longer maintain themselves outside