Paris trembles at Danton's arrest All of Paris was stunned when the news came that Danton and his friends Camille Desmoulins, Delacroix and Philippeaux had been arrested. Requesting the opportunity to address the Convention, Robbespierre rejected such calls saying "the object today is to determine whether the interest of a few ambitious hypocrites should outweigh the interests of the French people." He continued "I say that anybody who is trembling at this moment is guilty, for innocence does not fear the public eye." The charges against the Dantonists are not understood, being accused of implication in a foreign plot. An enormous crowd crammed into the courtroom on Germinal II (April 2nd). Whilst Danton defended himself eloquently, his thundering voice drowned those of his accusers "People you will judge me when you have heard me. My voice will not only be heard by you but throughout all of France." "Will the cowards who are slandering me dare to attack me to my face". Danton fought throughout, moving his listeners, but the determination of the Committee of Public Safety is solid and there appears little chance of escape. Execution It was all over 3 days later. Danton and his colleagues watched by a vast and mainly silent crowd were taken in a tumbrel to the Guillotine, Danton being reported to have shouted out "Robespier-re will follow me". As he stood on the platform of the Guillotine, he said to the executioner Sanson - "Don't forget to show my head to the people. It is well worth the trouble". A Survivor Not all those denounced to the Committee of Public Safety have perished. General Jourdan, the victor of Wattignies, was summoned to Paris and arraigned before the Committee which demanded that he be dismissed and put under arrest. He was defended by Duquesnoy, a monk turned Representant en Mission, who vouched for Jourdan's loyalty. Returning to the front line news has now come in that he has been involved in a great victory. Turcoing 16-18th May The enemies of France have been massing in the North with Austrian troops allied to British troops under the Duke of York threatening our northern borders. General Souham in command of the Armee du Nord in the absence of General Pichegru struck back at Allied troops trying to encircle him. Indecision on the part of Archduke Charles and poorly coordinated attacks allowed General Souham to seize the initiative. Detaching Generals Vandamme and Bonnaud to hold the Austrians he lead his main force against the left flank of the Duke of York. The Duke of York himself was very nearly taken prisoner and whilst he was being persued across country, the leaderless British troops were forced to retreat. The Allies have taken over 3000 casualties, whilst 19 out of 28 British guns have been taken. This welcome news has brought some cheer to a troubled Capital. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #17 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com