Cologne, May 12. At the present time the attention of the entire 
Rhine Province is concentrated on Elberfeld, a place which is now 
raising the “banner of revolt” higher than any other Rhenish town.’ 
The dissolution of the Chamber*™ was the signal for the movement 
in the otherwise so peaceful Wuppertal. The most addle-pated 
“wailers” *°> and the most miserable “hypocrites” had to admit that 
the guilt of the reaction exceeded all bounds, and carried away by the 
enthusiasm of those courageous workers whose energy we have 
never doubted, they have taken up arms and joined the ranks of 
those heroes on the barricades who are resolved to wage a struggle to 
the death against the monarchy. 

In view of the confused reports which reach us from the battle 
arena itself, it is impossible to separate the truth from the lies. This 
much at least seems certain: that the whole population has taken up 
arms, that streets and houses are barricaded, that from neighbouring 
places—Solingen, Remscheid, Grafrath, from localities of the 
Ennepe highway, in short, from the entire Berg Country—armed 
reinforcements are hurriedly arriving. It seems certain, too, that the 
insurgents are already not restricting themselves to the occupation of 
Elberfeld and Barmen but are extending their measures of defence 
to the most important points of the environs. 

It is confidently asserted that the insurgents also plan to hasten to 
the aid of Düsseldorf in order to clear that city of Prussian troops. 
The army reserve, which now for the first time has definitely sided 
with the people, is playing the main role in these operations. The 
fighters do not lack munitions and money since several of the richest 

merchants have readily opened their coffers. Thus, it is said that one 
trading house alone has given the Elberfeld Committee of Public 
Safety 500 friedrichsdors. 

Under these circumstances, of course, it is not surprising that the 
royal mercenaries are getting ready to attack in order wherever 
possible to crush the people in the Berg Country as well and 
perpetrate the same atrocities as in Breslau, Dresden, Erfurt etc. It is 
to be hoped that this time things will turn out differently. 

The artillery parked at Wesel will move from there to Elberfeld. It 
is said that the attack has been fixed for next Monday. 

We cannot vouch for these reports. But whatever the plans of the 
counter-revolution may be, Elberfeld will have to face a struggle in 
which it can truly perform a great service to our country.