The full truth as to Bismarck's relations to the Commune is not known.

The Germans, however, sent back a force of French prisoners, and these with other troops, after beating back the Communist sortie of April 3, began to threaten the defences of the city.

The strife at once took on a savage character, as was inevitable after the murder of two Generals in Paris.

The Versailles troops, treating the Communists as mere rebels, shot their chief officers.

Thereupon the Commune retaliated by ordering the capture of hostages, and by seizing the Archbishop of Paris, and several other ecclesiastics (April 5).