FRANCE: Cabinet of Premiers

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From Senlis, from Orléans, from Rouen, Chartres and Lyons they came, 8,000 grey-blue soldiers clumping into a Paris that, for the day, was placidly peaceful. Throughout the city headquarters were set up, rolling kitchens were fired and posts mounted. Workmen were out at dawn scattering clean yellow sand in the Place de la Concorde, the Place de la République and along the boulevards near the Chamber of Deputies to keep soldiers' horses from slipping. An emergency Cabinet headed by six onetime Premiers of France had taken charge. There had been bloody storms before and there might be more after, but for that day the Third Republic seemed to have survived.

After three weeks of desultory rioting, Paris suddenly became its ancient savage self. Mobs of veterans, of Communists, of screaming young Royalists tore through the streets. Some were headed by brass bands, some carried the tricolor, some the red flag. Each group was for a different cause but all were united against the small-mindedness of the Chamber of Deputies. In the broad Place de la Concorde occurred the bloodiest street battles Paris has seen since 1871. Drawn up at the opposite end of the square were blue-caped police, steel-helmeted Gardes Mobiles and mounted squadrons of the Garde Républicaine, guarding the bridge across the Seine to the Chamber. The first volleys went high above the crowd, splattered the pale stonework of the U. S. Embassy. But the mob swept on, firing in return. The next volleys were low and straight. Torches hurtled through the windows of the Ministry of Marine, setting its ground floor on fire. Terrified mobsters hammered frantically on the locked gates of the Hotel Crillon for shelter.

Then came the Spahis. Just before midnight the Algerian cavalrymen in their scarlet and white bournouses charged down with drawn sabres and drove the mob back up the Rue Royale to the Madeleine. Sedate Weber's Café became an emergency hospital. Ancient waiters carried the wounded in from the streets, ripped their aprons and napkins for bandages. Passing doctors operated on the restaurant tables.

Serious fighting lasted 48 hours. One of the hottest set-tos took place before the neo-Renaissance HÔtel de Ville. Here the mob, mostly youngsters, was led by 13 perspiring Municipal Councilors with their tricolor sashes wrapped round their stomachs. Communists led the crowds that battled police three days later around the Place de la République.