It is just, however, to say that all parties alike
seem nearly delirious, and that stories like nightmare dreams are afloat, and if true, or if even believed by the soldiers, would account for any reprisals. It is affirmed deliberately by M. Thiers that the insur- gents are throwing petroleum bombs, that is, liquid fire, and by others that the Federals are firing on Paris from the Southern forts—an atrocity, if true, as they must be slaying both sides— and that a brigade of firemen were caught pumping petroleum on the flames instead of water, and instantly shot. This last story is given by a correspondent of the Times, and, we imagine, is thus far true,—that grease of some sort was floating on the water, and raised the suspicions of the soldiery. It must also be remembered that a scene of the kind, a black smoke over the city, buildings burning, explosions incessant, and bullets pouring like hail, would drive any troops, however disciplined, to the verge of insanity. Our own men yield on such occasions, and it is rather by their conduct after the struggle than by their actions while it lasts that the soldiers "of order" must be judged.
