Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/358

 quitted Paris immediately after the nomination of this delegate by the Commune. Later, several amicable attempts were made by the Guards, under various pretexts, to enter the court of the Bank with their arms, but this was invariably opposed by the 12th battalion, consisting of five hundred men, who, since the 18th of March, had not left the building. Each day half of this number was on guard; while the other reposed.

The Federals also made several attempts to gain possession of the post at the corner of the Rues La Vrillière and Radzirvill, but they always failed before the energetic attitude of those by whom it was occupied.

The defenders of the Bank were kept always on the alert. They could rarely go to their homes to sleep, and frequently were unable to go out for their meals. The shutters were crenelated, and every man had his place assigned him in advance in case of combat.

Happily they were not reduced to this extremity, which would have been fatal to the employees of the Bank, who would have been burned, not attacked. General Douay arrived in time to prevent this disaster. The Place Vendôme, which was considered an impregnable fortress, being taken with but little difficulty, the troops were able to cross directly from the New Opera to the Bank.

The Federal battalions cantoned in the Rue d'Aboukir had received orders to set fire that day to the four corners of the building, and the guards within would have been powerless to prevent them from accomplishing their infamous design.

It is due to M. Beslay, the delegate of the Commune, to state that he opposed, by every means in his power, the exactions of the Federals; and it is generally believed that he effected his escape from Paris only because he was unmolested by the Government.

Meanwhile General Clinchant advanced his troops to