The Paris Commune. Friday, April 28, 1871. Things are not going well for the Commune in the fighting against the Versailles army. We read in the Journal Officiel: “the defense of Fort d'Issy is heroic. The fort is literally covered with projectiles. While I was at Fort Vanves, I witnessed a fierce musket battle with the Versaillais. It lasted three quarters of an hour. Meudon is in flames. The attacks took place at Clamart, Asnières, les Moulineaux, Neuilly.” Fort Issy is in serious trouble and danger, and disorder is clearly reigning in the organization of the defense: there is a lack of reliable information about the state of the army, the artillery, and there are defections in the National Guard. The decision is made to reorganize the troops of the National Guard, who defend Paris and its Commune, as we can see in the published manifesto. Considering the gravity of the circumstances and the need to take the most radical and energetic measures promptly, a debate begins among the leaders of the Commune on whether to create a Committee of Public Safety, restricted and entrusted with all powers. Opinions are expressed both in favor and against.
