The fighting still continues, the cannonading is almost incessant.
However, the damage done is but small. To-day, the 7th April, things
seem to be in pretty much the same position as they were after Bergeret
had been beaten back and Flourens killed. The forts of Vanves and Issy
bombard the Versailles batteries, which in their turn vomit shot and
shell on Vanves and Issy. Idle spectators, watching from the Trocadéro,
see long lines of white smoke arise in the distance. Every morning,
Citizen Cluseret,[44] the war delegate, announces that an assault of
gendarmes has been victoriously repulsed by the garrisons in the forts.
It is quite certain that if the Versaillais do attack they are
repulsed, as they make no progress whatever; but do they attack, that
is the question? I am rather inclined to think that these attacks and
repulses are mere inventions. It seems evident to me that the generals
of the National Assembly, who are now busy establishing batteries and
concentrating their forces, will not make a serious attempt until they
are certain of victory. In the meantime they are satisfied to complete
the ruin of the forts which were already so much damaged by the
Prussians.
Between Courbevoie and the Porte Maillot the fighting is continual.
Ground is lost and gained, such and such a house that was just now
occupied by the Versaillais is now in the hands of the Federals, and
_vice versâ_. Neither side is wholly victorious, but the fighting goes
on. What! is there no one to cry out “Enough! Enough blood, enough
tears! Enough Frenchmen killed by Frenchmen, Republicans killed by
Republicans.” Men fall on each side with the same war cry on their
lips. Oh! when will all this dreadful misunderstanding cease?