ST. DENIS, WEDNESDAY.

Severe fighting continues round the Hotel de Ville. At 5 p.m the cannonade was loud and incessant. It is reported that the Tuileries, the Louvre, with all its works of art, and the Conseil d’Etat, have been fired by the Federals.

German officers confidently state that the Commune will be vanquished, and communications with Paris restored tomorrow evening or the following morning. The police surveillance has been redoubled at all the railway stations. Strict orders have been issued to prevent any but passengers entering the stations or having access to the platform on the Northern line. Passports are demanded, and the few passengers are narrowly scrutinised.



The rue de Rivoli after the suppression of the Paris Commune, 1871. Photograph: Niday Picture Library/Alamy

BOULOGNE, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

It is stated that 500 Federal prisoners are expected here tonight, and a battalion of Chasseurs. Workmen have been actively employed all day long at the Chateau, repairing and arranging it for the reception of the prisoners. The barracks are all ready for the troops.

ST. DENIS, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

This has been the most fearful of all days for Paris. The capital is on fire in very many places, and the destruction of the greater part of the eastern and central portions seems at this moment inevitable. Dense clouds of smoke hang over the city. The fighting throughout the day has been desperate and bloody beyond precedent. The Communists have carried out their threat of blowing up some of the barricades when they were no longer tenable.

The Paris Commune - barricade in the rue de Charonne - 1871 Photograph: Photo 12/UIG via Getty Images

The Versailles troops were mowed down by musketry firing from the windows, and by the fire of mitrailleurs behind the barricades. Their losses during the day have been very heavy, but they have made steady advances, except in the direction of Belleville, where they were driven back. It is said that the buildings which are burning have been set on fire by the shells of the Versaillists.



OUTSIDE PARIS, WEDNESDAY, 10 P.M.

A terrible fire is raging in the chief centre of Paris. The Versailles batteries are firing furiously against the quarters which still hold out. By the aid of the telescope the horrible fact is disclosed of numerous dead and wounded being left lying about the streets without any succour whatever.

Statesman M.Thiers declares that justice will soon be satisfied.

A statue of Napoleon lies broken in the Place Vendome after being dismantled by the Paris Commune. Photograph: Hulton Deutsch/Corbis via Getty Images



