587 - BALLON. 1870. TELEGRAM No. 83 – Circular from TOURS, received in DUNKERQUE (59) on Dec. 2, 1870. “The government delegation received news today, Thursday, December 1, of a VICTORY won beneath the walls of PARIS on November 28, 29, and 30. This news had been brought to Tours by the balloon “JULES FAVRE,” which landed near Belle-Isle-en-Mer. At four o’clock, Mr. GAMBETTA, a member of the Government, confirmed this great and joyful news in these terms: Dear Fellow Citizens, after 72 days of a siege unprecedented in all of history, devoted to preparing and organizing the forces of liberation, PARIS has just sent a large and valiant army beyond its walls to break the iron ring that grips it… Our two great armies are marching toward one another. Who, then, would now doubt the final outcome of this colossal struggle? The Prussians can now see the difference between a despot who fights to satisfy his whims and an armed people who refuse to perish… France and the world will never forget that it was PARIS that first set this example, taught this policy, and thus established its moral supremacy by remaining faithful to the heroic spirit of the Revolution. Long live Paris!!! Long live France!!! Long live the one and indivisible Republic!!! ” Léon GAMBETTA – copy by TRYSTRAM, Subprefect of DUNKERQUE – Printed in Dunkirk, Typo Ve B. Kien, 26 rue Nationale – Poster (70 x 53) Condition D (a few missing sections)