Question

Why was there crowd in front of bulletin board at the town hall why did people usually come there

Answer 1

A crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board at the town hall to read the news that was put up in the board. News had arrived from Berlin that instead of French , Germanwould be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.

As the narrator said that for two years bad news of the lost wars, draft of the commanding officer had been put up in that bulletin board. So, people usually came there to see whether there was any new news or not.