Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/373

 Four carriages, filled with people, arrived at the gas-*works.

The National Guards, who did not even recognize the persons wishing to make their escape, opposed their departure, menacing to make holes in the balloon with their bullets if the gas was not immediately discharged. One National Guard even added, "You have brought us to the pit, and you must remain in it with us."

Seeing that flight was impossible, the members of the Commune, with the four carriages, retook the road to the Hotel de Ville.

Although, as has already been stated, M. Thiers, in his proclamation, outstripped in his desires the course of events, still it is certain that the day of the 23d was decisive. In a moral relation, it showed on all the points of attack the energetic decision of the troops, their strong discipline regained more firmly than before, and now unchangeable in all contacts with an insurrectional population. Advances and fraternal proclamations had as little influence upon them as the abuse which, for the last two months, the Commune of Paris had showered upon the army of investment—upon that army of France which, as Marshal de MacMahon so well said, was now penetrated with a sentiment of its duty and its national mission.

In a strategic point of view, the consequences were not less important. The army was master of all the great arteries which penetrate to the heart of the capital; the communications had been strongly established, and were perfectly secure; and, finally, the position of Montmartre was in possession of the Government, the occupation of which delivered Paris from a most menacing danger, while at the same time it was able to concur, in a most efficacious manner, in the succeeding operations of the army.