Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/469

 *rived at his house with several furniture wagons which they had requisitioned, and began to load them with the furniture of the prisoner. At the same time, they searched the domestic, and took from him a sum of 120 francs.

The indignant neighbors succeeded in obliging the robbers to release a portion of the furniture, but nothing would induce them to surrender the money, which they regarded as only their rightful profit.

On Friday, the 26th, the following announcement was made by the Minister of War in the National Assembly:

":—The situation in Paris becomes better and better. The troops meet with an energetic resistance, but their courage and devotedness exceed the opposition they encounter. They advance slowly but surely. We are masters of all that portion of Paris situated on the left bank. On the right bank, our attack has extended to the Place de la Bastille, which is now in the possession of the army.

"General Vinoy is manœuvring at this moment for the capture of the Barrière du Trône. Nearly all the boulevards are in the power of the army. The Place du Chateau-d'Eau, the barracks of the Prince Eugène, the Magasins-Réunis—all that portion of Paris is in our hands.

"All the forts on the left bank, Bicêtre and Ivry included, are in our power. Bicêtre and Ivry were carried by the cavalry.

"There remain at this hour only the Buttes Chaumont, and the portion which extends on that side—that is, Belleville, La Villette, La Chapelle. But the troops advance methodically and regularly on these last points. To-morrow, I hope, they will be able to conquer this last citadel of the insurrection, and the great satisfaction will be given to the Government of announcing to the Assembly,