Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/79

 The situation in Paris remained for several days about the same. The supporters of the law had taken up arms, and were occupying the principal quarters of the capital. All parts of France were rallying round the National Assembly and the Government. A proposition had been passed in the Chamber that the National Guards of France should be summoned to assist in the defence of the representatives of the country. The army at Versailles was hourly being reinforced, and the head of the Executive Power was accused of lack of energy in not at once attacking the insurgents; but he, or the generals in command, knew their duties better. It would have been sheer madness to make an attack on 100,000 men fighting in forts, defended by ramparts, or behind barricades, even if the 25,000 National Guards who remained loyal could have opened the gates. The army did not yet muster over 50,000 men, many of whom had probably not yet been cured of their fraternizing propensities.

In the meantime the requisitions of the Committee kept increasing. The insurgents had used up one million three hundred thousand francs, which were on deposit at the Comptes d'Escomptes to the credit of the International Society, in addition to the loose change they had found lying at the different public offices. Many of the shopkeepers were hesitating about laying in further supplies, and all of them manifested the intention of defending their property. The following is a specimen of one of the orders issued by the Committee of the Hotel de Ville:

",, . " " "

"In case of refusal, Citizen Albert, charged with the commission, may get himself assisted by the National Guards of the quarter.

(Signed) ", "Member of the Federation."